Julian Assange: "I Pled Guilty to Journalism" in Bid for Freedom

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In his first public address since being released from prison, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange declared that his freedom was not due to the justice system functioning as intended, but rather because he "pled guilty to journalism." Speaking at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, France, Assange gave his testimony to the Parliamentary Assembly, discussing the effects of his detention and conviction on human rights. The assembly consists of representatives from 46 European nations, and his speech was given ahead of a broader debate on his case and its implications.

Julian Assange confirms that the only reason he is free today is because he "pled guilty to journalism". pic.twitter.com/4OjUcE1Bvm

— Sumit (@SumitHansd) October 1, 2024

 

"I am not free today because the system worked," Assange said, making it clear that he attributed his release to his controversial journalistic activities. "I am free today after years of incarceration because I pled guilty to journalism. I pled guilty to seeking information from a source."

 

Assange’s release in June came after five years of imprisonment in the United Kingdom. He had pleaded guilty to obtaining and publishing classified U.S. military documents in an agreement with U.S. prosecutors, marking the conclusion of a prolonged legal battle. Prior to his imprisonment, Assange spent seven years in self-imposed exile within the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, where he sought asylum to avoid extradition, citing political persecution.

 

The documents released by Assange’s organization, WikiLeaks, exposed sensitive U.S. military operations, particularly in Iraq and Afghanistan. These included war logs and diplomatic cables that revealed misconduct by U.S. forces, information that would likely have remained concealed without Assange’s involvement. One of the most notable releases was a video showing a 2007 Apache helicopter strike in Baghdad, during which American forces killed 11 people, including two Reuters journalists.

 

Assange’s supporters, particularly advocates of press freedom, praised his efforts, arguing that his work was vital in exposing military abuses that might otherwise have gone unchecked. However, his critics took a starkly different view. They accused him of recklessly endangering national security and putting lives at risk, particularly those of individuals who had provided information to U.S. forces in the Middle East. Some argued that Assange’s actions had exceeded the boundaries of traditional journalism, turning him into a criminal rather than a whistleblower.

 

Assange’s legal journey reached its conclusion in a U.S. district court on the Northern Mariana Islands, an American commonwealth in the Pacific. There, he pleaded guilty to charges under the Espionage Act, admitting to conspiring to unlawfully obtain and distribute classified national defense information. His sentence amounted to the time he had already spent behind bars while contesting extradition from the U.K. to the United States.

 

The Council of Europe’s human rights committee took a strong stance on the issue, designating Assange as a political prisoner and issuing a draft resolution condemning the harsh treatment he endured. The committee expressed its deep concern about the wider implications of his case on press freedom and human rights, highlighting what they described as a chilling effect on investigative journalism.

 

As the debate surrounding his actions and their consequences continues, Assange’s legacy remains polarizing. For some, he is a champion of transparency and accountability in government. For others, his methods posed an unacceptable risk to lives and national security. What is clear is that his case has ignited significant discussions about the role of journalism, freedom of information, and the ethical boundaries that should govern both.

 

Based on a report from: ABC News 2024-10-02

 

 

 

[Tug]

Naa you got caught out exposing secrets and putting lives at risk