Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese reiterated his determination to urge the US to drop its prosecution of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. Despite previous rejections from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Albanese stated firmly that his government would continue to press for a resolution.
In May, Albanese expressed the need for a conclusion to the Assange case and stated that his government was working through diplomatic channels to resolve the situation with Washington. However, he has not specified whether he wants the US to drop the case entirely or seek a plea bargain with Assange.
Blinken responded to these pleas by highlighting the seriousness of the alleged actions committed by Assange. He emphasized that Assange’s actions posed a significant risk to national security, benefiting adversaries and endangering human sources. Blinken’s comments during a joint appearance with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong in Brisbane sent a clear message that the US would not comply with Australia’s request.
Albanese acknowledged Blinken’s stance and recognized that it was consistent with the US’ private position. However, he made it clear that he would not back down and would continue to raise the issue with his American counterparts.
Assange, an Australian citizen, is currently being held in London’s Belmarsh Prison as he fights extradition to the US. If extradited, he faces 17 charges under the Espionage Act, which could result in a 175-year prison sentence.
These charges stem from Assange’s publication of classified material obtained from whistleblowers, which included Pentagon documents detailing alleged US war crimes and diplomatic cables revealing US efforts to influence foreign elections. It is worth noting that the Espionage Act has never been used to prosecute someone solely for publishing classified material, without involvement in theft.
Assange and his supporters argue that WikiLeaks’ publication of the classified material is protected by the First Amendment of the US Constitution. Former US president Barack Obama shared this view, as his Justice Department chose not to press charges against Assange, believing there were no legal grounds to do so.
In 2020, Assange’s extradition to the US was approved by the then-UK home secretary Priti Patel. He recently filed a final appeal against the decision after a High Court judge rejected all eight grounds of a previous appeal.
The extradition case and the demand for the US to drop its prosecution have ignited international debate and raised concerns about press freedom and the protection of whistleblowers. As the legal battle continues, the outcome will have far-reaching implications for journalism, freedom of speech, and government accountability.
Anthony Albanese’s unwavering commitment to advocating for Assange reflects the broader global discussion surrounding the limits of press freedom and the future of whistleblowing. It remains to be seen how the US government will respond to Australia’s continued pressure and whether a resolution can be reached in the Assange case.
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