Reps. Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Jim McGovern (D-MA) have written to President Joe Biden, urging him to pardon WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. They warn that prosecuting Assange under the Espionage Act creates a precedent that could endanger journalistic freedom.
Assange returned to Australia this year after reaching a plea deal with the U.S. Justice Department. He pled guilty to charges of “Conspiracy To Obtain and Disclose National Defense Information,” receiving a 62-month sentence credited to time served.
In their letter, Massie and McGovern praised the administration for ending Assange’s detention but criticized the plea agreement. “This decision has raised alarms among advocates for freedom of expression and the press,” they wrote.
The Committee to Protect Journalists has been vocal in its opposition to the prosecution, warning that it sets a harmful precedent for investigative journalism. “Journalists should never be tried under the Espionage Act,” said CPJ CEO Jodie Ginsberg.
The lawmakers argue that a pardon would rectify the situation and reaffirm the U.S.’s commitment to press freedom. “We urge you to issue a pardon for Mr. Assange to undo the damage caused by this case,” they wrote.
This bipartisan effort highlights growing concerns about the broader implications of prosecuting publishers for exposing sensitive government information.
