In a remarkable display of bipartisan unity, a diverse group of U.S. legislators has urged President Biden to cease the pursuit of legal action against Julian Assange, the controversial figure behind WikiLeaks. This unusual coalition, including members from various political spectrums such as Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia and prominent “Squad” members like Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, have collectively authored a letter to the president. Stella Assange, Julian Assange’s wife, shared this letter on social media platforms the day following its submission.
The letter, dated November 8, appeals for the termination of the extradition efforts by the U.S. against Assange, who is currently incarcerated in the high-security Belmarsh Prison in London. Assange’s detention follows his eviction from the Ecuadorian Embassy in 2019, where he sought asylum, and he now faces legal battles against his extradition to the U.S.
Congress members emphasized their commitment to the principles of free speech and press freedom in their communication with the administration. They argue that pursuing Assange, an Australian publisher, on charges related to the 1917 Espionage Act and accusations of computer intrusion, undermines these fundamental values. Assange risks a maximum sentence of 175 years if extradited and convicted in the U.S.
The charges against Assange stem from WikiLeaks’ 2010 release of classified documents obtained from U.S. Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning. These documents revealed alleged war crimes in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Guantanamo Bay detention camp, as well as questionable actions by the CIA. Notably, WikiLeaks published the “Collateral Murder” video, which showed U.S. forces firing on civilians in Iraq, including two journalists from Reuters.
The bipartisan group of lawmakers stressed that the Espionage Act was originally intended for punishing those who leak state secrets to enemy states, not for targeting journalists and whistleblowers. They fear that prosecuting Assange could set a dangerous precedent, potentially criminalizing standard journalistic practices and thus dampening press freedom.
Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comments but did not receive any immediate response.
The initiative to draft the letter was led by Reps. Thomas Massie of Kentucky and James McGovern of Massachusetts. Massie has been known for his efforts to reform the Espionage Act to better protect whistleblowers and journalists. Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky is the sole Senator to have signed the letter.
Other signatories include Reps. Jamaal Bowman of New York, Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Paul Gosar of Arizona, Cori Bush of Missouri, Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts, Greg Casar of Texas, Eric Burlison of Missouri, Matthew Rosendale of Montana, Chuy Garcia of Illinois, and Pramila Jayapal of Washington. Rep. Summer Lee of Pennsylvania was the only member of the eight-person “Squad” who did not sign the letter.
This call for Assange’s release follows a visit by a group of Australian lawmakers to Washington, D.C., who met with U.S. officials and civil rights organizations to advocate for dropping the charges against Assange. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has also been vocal in recent months, urging the U.S. to end the prosecution.
While U.S. prosecutors and Assange’s critics argue that WikiLeaks’ publications endangered U.S. allies, no evidence has surfaced to support this claim. If extradited and his legal appeals exhausted, Assange would face trial in Alexandria, Virginia.