Text by WILLIAM RUMELHART
Art by ALISON XIONG
OPINION:
A perilous prosecution Charging Assange with espionage endangers American journalism
N
otorious publisher and activist Julian Assange may soon find himself on American soil. As director of WikiLeaks — an international organization that receives and publishes leaks of sensitive government information — he has been charged with espionage by the U.S. Department of Justice for the publication of classified U.S. government documents on the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars by WikiLeaks in 2010. His extradition from the United Kingdom to stand trial in the United States is expected later this year. Assange’s prosecution is a scandalous breach of a century-long tradition of not charging individuals or organizations for receiving and publishing leaked government information under the Espionage Act. It is appalling — and revealing — that this policy has been violated in the past few years, during which time global press freedom has eroded precipitously. Although not a reputable journalist himself, Assange’s activities in this case are similar to those of professional journalists: publishing sensitive information from sources and whistleblowers. Therefore, when Assange has his day in court, he will not be the only one on trial. His espionage prosecution alone threatens to have a chilling effect on investigative journalism and the publication of leaks, particularly involving the U.S. government. A conviction threatens an even more troubling precedent. Any defense of Assange requires a series of concessions about him and his activities. He is a thoroughly unsavory individual with an insatiable appetite for attention. He has been accused of rape and operating
32 April 2022
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