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2020 candidate Tulsi Gabbard has spoken out against the US government\u2019s plans to extradite and punish WikiLeaks co-founder Julian Assange, calling it a \u201cblow to transparency and a blow to a free press.\u201d<\/p>\n
Speaking to MSNBC\u2019s Chris Matthews on Thursday, Gabbard defended the prior administration\u2019s decision not to attempt to extradite Assange. Despite his administration\u2019s record use of the Espionage act against whistleblowers, Barack Obama opted not to pursue charges against Assange, claiming it would create a dangerous precedent for journalists.<\/p>\n
\nAssange Arrest: The message is clear. To journalists and all Americans, if you try to take away our power, you will pay a high price. pic.twitter.com\/tEgVt6t6Tm<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 Tulsi Gabbard (@TulsiGabbard) April 12, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cThis is a threat to journalists,\u201d<\/em> she told Matthews, \u201cbut it\u2019s also something that threatens every American, because the message that we are getting, that the American people are getting is: Be quiet, toe the line, otherwise there will be consequences.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n
Assange was dragged from the Ecuadorian Embassy in London by British police on Thursday morning, and later found guilty of skipping bail back in 2012. He is due to be sentenced next month and could face a year in prison. Separately, the US Justice Department has indicted Assange on \u201cconspiracy to commit computer intrusion,\u201d<\/em> with US Army whistleblower Chelsea Manning in 2010.<\/p>\n
The WikiLeaks founder received little sympathy from Gabbard\u2019s fellow lawmakers, Republican or Democrat. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer flogged the dead horse of the \u2018Russiagate\u2019 conspiracy, accusing Assange of \u201cmeddling in our elections on behalf of Putin,\u201d<\/em> a sentiment echoed by Intelligence Committee chair Richard Burr (R-North Carolina), who said that WikiLeaks \u201ceffectively acted as an arm of the Russian intelligence services for years.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n
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\n<\/a><\/p>\nProgressive figurehead and 2020 contender Bernie Sanders kept quiet on the whole affair, while failed 2016 candidate Hillary Clinton told<\/a> an audience in New York that \u201cit\u2019s ironic that he may be the only foreigner that this administration would welcome to the United States,\u201d<\/em> before chuckling at her own joke.<\/p>\n
President Donald Trump, who told campaign rallies \u201cI love WikiLeaks\u201d<\/em> in 2016 now seems to be ready to wash his hands of Assange. Asked about the arrest on Thursday, Trump told reporters \u201cI know nothing about WikiLeaks. It\u2019s not my thing.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n
If extradited and found guilty, Assange faces five years in prison for the US charge. However, his lawyers are concerned that the Justice Department may tack on additional charges, and have vowed to fight the extradition process tooth and nail.<\/p>\n
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