In a rare display of bipartisanship, Reps. Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Jim McGovern (D-MA) have jointly urged President Joe Biden to pardon WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. The lawmakers argue that prosecuting Assange under the Espionage Act threatens the core principles of a free press.
Assange, who spent years in detention in the UK, returned to Australia following a plea deal with the U.S. Justice Department. The deal required him to plead guilty to charges related to publishing classified information and resulted in a 62-month sentence, mostly credited to time served.
While the plea deal ended Assange’s detention, Massie and McGovern warned that it set a dangerous precedent. “This is the first time the Espionage Act has been used against a publisher,” they wrote, expressing concern over its implications for investigative journalism.
The Committee to Protect Journalists has echoed these concerns, noting that the case could open the door to future prosecutions against journalists for routine reporting on national security. “This should never have been the case,” said CPJ CEO Jodie Ginsberg.
The congressmen argue that a pardon would demonstrate the administration’s commitment to protecting journalists and send a strong message about the value of press freedom.
This appeal adds to growing calls for the U.S. to reconsider its stance on Assange and the broader implications of prosecuting publishers under the Espionage Act.
