Julian Assange. Saint or sinner?

[birdbath]

The US and many of our establishment want rid of the man.
The disclosures of wrongdoing are very much in the public interest as is the demand of justice for his accusers.
Any court proceedings could be very interesting.
Anybody want to express their first impressions?

[Hamble]

Sweden should have priority on the extradition.

I think Assange should face trial in the USA for his actions which went beyond journalism.

Assange is also very lucky the Countries claiming his extradition are Western and humanitarian as this man (from all accounts) has a fragile mental state predating the alleged crimes.

[local]

Would be good to hear the defence case first.

[Alikado]

Sweden announced sometime ago that they were discontinuing their interest in Assange, but I think this country are just trying to pass the buck when they say Sweden should have first go. Everybody knows if he is extradited to US he will face a lot more charges than the conspiracy charge with the 5 year sentence they are trying to extradite him on, Trump was more than happy with him / Wikileaks when the 30,000 emails of Hilary's were released but I suspect now his view will have changed.

[Toodles McGinty]

I think he should answer for his alleged crimes in Sweden first. Although I don't know if they've requested his extradition because the two charges were dropped. But he could still be charged with rape until 2020, so of all the charges against him, he should answer to this first.

As for Wiki-Leaks, exposing US war crimes, the Panama Papers etc, is in the public interest. Although I suppose it depends which side you are on. It probably cost Clinton the election, but it has won praise from organisations such as Amnesty International. Personally I think that uncovering some of the shadier parts of government is a good thing.

I wouldn't call Assange a saint, he sounds like a very strange man. For Wiki-leaks he's not a sinner. For the rape allegations, that's for a jury to decide. But I doubt he'll get his day in court.

[Graham]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1efOs0BsE0g

[Albion102]

Whether in the public interest or not, he committed a serious offence and caused damage to the state. Thurs would be a serious crime in the UK as well as the US and doesn't carry the Death Penalty so there is no reason to extradite him.

I would argue he should be extradited to Sweden first, but only if he could be extradited to the US.

How many nurses could have been employed with the millions spent on policing the Ecuadorian embassy.

[said]

The US and many of our establishment want rid of the man.
The disclosures of wrongdoing are very much in the public interest as is the demand of justice for his accusers.
Any court proceedings could be very interesting.
Anybody want to express their first impressions?

Why is the USA so keen to arrest him? He is obviously a very talented man, who has taken investigative journalism to heights not known before. It has long been known that the USA are less than transparent on their activities and many of those who hold high office are nervous about Mr. Assange's revelations. Why? Is it because for too long these people have been protected by the establishment and due to this one man are likely to have their dirty washing aired in public? Why would anyone take the risks that Mr. Assange has taken if what he was publishing was all lies? Why would anyone bother if Mr. Assange was spreading lies? My guess is that his reports are true and hurting a lot of people who have led less than honest lives, and they will do all they can in their power to have him put away for a very long time. But in order to do so, because he is now such a public figure - they have to do so legally and allow him his human rights which also include free speech. To do otherwise would prevent journalists from publishing any reports for fear of reprisals.

[Graham]

https://caitlinjohnstone.com/2019/04...ssange-smears/