Joe Biden:
Considering dropping prosecution against Assange
Wikileaks founder Julian Assange has been in prison in the UK for five years to the day (see video above). The US government wants to put him on trial on espionage charges. However, President Joe Biden has now made it clear that consideration is being given to dropping the criminal proceedings against Assange.
Australia's government had previously submitted such a request. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had already expressed concern about his countryman Assange during a state visit to the USA last October. "Mr. Assange has already paid a considerable price - and enough is enough." Biden's statement about possibly dropping the criminal proceedings is "encouraging." The Wikileaks founder himself also spoke of a "ray of hope" and a "positive step."
The US government accuses the 52-year-old of stealing and publishing secret material from military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan together with Chelsea Manning, thereby endangering the lives of whistleblowers. Assange was arrested exactly five years ago, on April 11, 2019. He had previously sought refuge in the Ecuadorian embassy in London for seven years.
"He is not doing well"
The Australian faces up to 175 years in prison in the USA. According to the head of the Wikileaks disclosure platform, Kristinn Hrafnssson, Assange has suffered physically and mentally. "He is not well. What keeps him alive is his family and the enormous support from outside. No one would be in a good state after spending five years in prison, with this very uncertain future and constant anger."
The charges against Assange were brought under former President Donald Trump, so he is said to be fearful of his re-election.
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