US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has addressed Australia’s concerns regarding the ongoing prosecution of Julian Assange, but has made it clear that the United States will continue to pursue his extradition and prosecute him for espionage. Speaking alongside Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong in Brisbane, Blinken acknowledged the concerns of Australians but emphasized the serious harm Assange’s alleged actions have caused to US national security.
Blinken stated that Assange’s actions posed significant risks to the country’s intelligence operations and put named human sources in danger of physical harm and detention. He emphasized that Assange has been charged with serious criminal conduct and was involved in one of the largest compromises of classified information in US history.
Julian Assange, an Australian citizen, is currently being held in London’s Belmarsh Prison as he fights against extradition to the US. He faces 17 charges under the Espionage Act, which could result in a prison sentence of up to 175 years. Human rights and press freedom activists have been advocating for his release, citing his deteriorating mental and physical health. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has also expressed his efforts to persuade the US to drop the case through diplomatic channels.
The charges against Assange are based on his publication of classified material obtained from whistleblowers. These materials include Pentagon documents exposing alleged US war crimes and over 250,000 diplomatic cables revealing US efforts to spy on allies and influence foreign elections. While Assange did not personally steal these documents, he is being prosecuted for espionage. Assange and his supporters argue that WikiLeaks’ publication of the material is protected by the First Amendment of the US Constitution, which guarantees freedom of speech and the press.
Foreign Minister Wong acknowledged that Assange’s case has been ongoing for an extended period of time and stated that Australia has publicly expressed its view that the case has dragged on for too long. She indicated that this position would also be communicated in private discussions.
Assange’s extradition to the US was approved in 2020 by then-UK Home Secretary Priti Patel. In June, Assange lodged his final appeal against the decision after all eight grounds of a previous appeal were rejected by a High Court judge.
In response to Secretary Blinken’s comments, Assange’s brother Gabriel Shipton called on Prime Minister Albanese to publicly advocate for Assange’s freedom during his upcoming visit to the US.
The case of Julian Assange remains a contentious issue, with arguments focusing on press freedom, national security, and the limits of government transparency. As the legal battle continues, the world watches closely to see the outcome and its potential implications for whistleblowers, journalists, and the future of press freedom.
Source link
