Perspective | The U.S. says Julian Assange ‘is no journalist.’ Here’s why that shouldn’t matter.

Julian Assange, founder of WikiLeaks, greets supporters before addressing them and reporters from a balcony at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London in 2017. By Elizabeth Goitein Elizabeth Goitein is co-director of the liberty and national security program at the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law.

Assange is being charged under the Espionage Act, a law passed during World War I to punish spies and traitors. But in recent years, the law increasingly has been used against government employees who leak classified information to the media. The Obama administration brought eight prosecutions for media leaks — more than all previous administrations combined — and the Trump administration has upped the ante, bringing seven prosecutions in the space of two years.

Assange, however, engaged in the “explicit solicitation of classified material” and made no effort to redact information that could put people at risk, Demers said. In the Justice Department’s view, Assange is therefore not a “journalist” and is subject to prosecution for his actions. Of course, the freedom of speech is not unlimited. Libel is not protected by the First Amendment, nor is direct incitement to violence. But whether Assange crossed any such lines does not depend on whether he was acting as a journalist. The Justice Department cannot prosecute Assange for publishing information that The Washington Post could constitutionally publish.

...neither is mainstream media, Wapoo or the Clinton News Network!

It’s painful defending JulianAssange for publishing leaked information. The trump admin is attempting to silence news outlets from exposing their secrets. Conversely, I’m delighted trump is thanking Assange for getting him elected by stabbing him in the back.

He is 100x more of a journalist, than all you mainstream media outlets combined. He was posting factual stuff, leaked to him. The difference is, his was obviously verified. Something you siren chasers don’t do. Journalism is dead, bias and emotion killed it

Here’s page 13 of the Mueller Report, Executive Summary, outlining how Wikileaks worked w Russia to interfere in 2016 elections. Like a lawyer and privilege, once you decide to make news instead of reporting on it, you loseyour protected status:

He is hero.

He didn't just push the boundary of 1st amendment rights, he flew right past it. Life sentence is in order

He is a journalist, he reveals lies, and showed the truth, that is the real journalism,

It's a familiar pattern for US govt 2 arbitrarily reclassify things to suit it. Think abt bombing of SerbiaESC broadcaster in 1999,scores of journalists killed. Of course, the bombing was justifiable b/c the broadcaster was 'a propaganda machine' & journalists 'no journalists'

This media has no integrity journalism either

Fair point, well made. This is one of those slippery slopes we should avoid.

Espionage is not journalism.

Julian is not a journalist, he is a prisoner. Or sa the big fellas in jail say - “he is my bitch”

He isn't a journalist. He is an anti-American hater. I'm just glad he thought President Trump wouldn't prosecute him. Next, the Trump administration should jail other anti-American adversaries, like the entire staff of the so called 'Intercept'.

None of the people on this list are Journalist, they sold out on Journalism for Propagandist. Till American Media ditch Socialist Democrats Liberalism these people never will be Journalist in the eyes of the world. CNN MSNBC nytimes WAPO ABC NBCNews CBSNews AP PBS

Julian who? at this point.

He’s a criminal. Stop treating him like a journalist. He undermined our democracy. If it wasn’t for him, Hillary could have won.

Too bad Tucker Carlson already beat the left wing media to this story/realization months ago.

A sovereign state defends it's classified information, with force. Grow up.

No where in the Constitution does it say we need a Press Pass to be a journalist.

Nope

So the media was cheering for his arrest until one of you figured out how this might turn out bad for you?

Law Law Latest News, Law Law Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

U.S. charges WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange with espionageThe U.S. Justice Department unveiled 17 new criminal charges against WikiLeaks f... It's about time.
Source: Reuters - 🏆 2. / 97 Read more »

US charges WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange with espionageThe US Justice Department unveiled 17 new criminal charges against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange accusing him of placing the US at risk of serious harm by publishing thousands of secret and classified documents
Source: trtworld - 🏆 101. / 63 Read more »

Julian Assange’s charges are ‘dangerous’ to press freedom, advocates sayMany fear the same legal argument could be used against traditional journalists. No, its not because Julian Assange is not a journalist. He's a criminal hacker who steals information and posts it online to attack security of the enemies of Russia. An asset of the Kremlin. He trying to BLOW up the first amendment How? None of his charges relate to publishing.
Source: washingtonpost - 🏆 95. / 72 Read more »

'Julian Assange is no journalist.' Feds charge WikiLeaks founder for revealing U.S. government secretsThe Justice Department filed 18 new charges against the WikiLeaks founder accusing him of conspiring to reveal classified secrets. The U.S. charges Julian Assange!!!!!! The fate of the world is up to US! Join F8Book. JulianAssange Wikileaks He showed the world how CIA, NSA, etc how they spy us. We thank U Mr Assange.
Source: USATODAY - 🏆 100. / 63 Read more »