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Julian Assange: 'Chelsea Manning pardon was bid to make life hard for me' Julian Assange: 'Chelsea Manning clemency was bid to make life hard for me'
(about 1 hour later)
Julian Assange has said Barack Obama’s decision to grant whistleblower Chelsea Manning clemency was a bid to “make life hard” for him.Julian Assange has said Barack Obama’s decision to grant whistleblower Chelsea Manning clemency was a bid to “make life hard” for him.
In an interview with the Australian current affairs programme The Project, the WikiLeaks founder also qualified his pledge to accept extradition to the US if Manning was granted clemency.In an interview with the Australian current affairs programme The Project, the WikiLeaks founder also qualified his pledge to accept extradition to the US if Manning was granted clemency.
After Manning’s sentence was commuted last week, a member of Assange’s legal team said he would not go back on his word.After Manning’s sentence was commuted last week, a member of Assange’s legal team said he would not go back on his word.
But Assange said in the pre-recorded interview with The Project’s host, Waleed Aly, that any possible extradition would be dependent on striking a deal with the US justice department.But Assange said in the pre-recorded interview with The Project’s host, Waleed Aly, that any possible extradition would be dependent on striking a deal with the US justice department.
He said his team had sought to engage with the Department of Justice to determine their intentions with the ongoing case and if “there is some way you guys can drop it”.He said his team had sought to engage with the Department of Justice to determine their intentions with the ongoing case and if “there is some way you guys can drop it”.
Assange is the subject of an espionage investigation in the US, though the justice department has never announced any indictment and no charges have been brought against him.Assange is the subject of an espionage investigation in the US, though the justice department has never announced any indictment and no charges have been brought against him.
He has been living in the Ecuadorian embassy in London since claiming asylum there in 2012, and has refused to meet prosecutors in Sweden, where he is wanted on a rape allegation, which he denies. He has repeatedly said he fears extradition to the US on espionage charges if he leaves the embassy, though at the moment the only public extradition ruling against him comes from Sweden.He has been living in the Ecuadorian embassy in London since claiming asylum there in 2012, and has refused to meet prosecutors in Sweden, where he is wanted on a rape allegation, which he denies. He has repeatedly said he fears extradition to the US on espionage charges if he leaves the embassy, though at the moment the only public extradition ruling against him comes from Sweden.
In a tweet on 13 January, Assange pledged to travel to the US if Manning – who passed 700,000 documents, videos, diplomatic cables and battlefield accounts to WikiLeaks – was granted clemency.In a tweet on 13 January, Assange pledged to travel to the US if Manning – who passed 700,000 documents, videos, diplomatic cables and battlefield accounts to WikiLeaks – was granted clemency.
If Obama grants Manning clemency Assange will agree to US extradition despite clear unconstitutionality of DoJ case https://t.co/MZU30SlfGKIf Obama grants Manning clemency Assange will agree to US extradition despite clear unconstitutionality of DoJ case https://t.co/MZU30SlfGK
The White House has insisted that Assange’s offer did not influence Obama’s decision to grant Manning clemency, which Assange disputed on The Project.The White House has insisted that Assange’s offer did not influence Obama’s decision to grant Manning clemency, which Assange disputed on The Project.
“In the end, Barack Obama – wanting, I guess, to look tough – said that my offer had nothing to do with Chelsea Manning being granted clemency, so there is no quid pro quo,” he said.“In the end, Barack Obama – wanting, I guess, to look tough – said that my offer had nothing to do with Chelsea Manning being granted clemency, so there is no quid pro quo,” he said.
Questioned by Aly over the apparent new terms in his offer to be extradited, Assange said he had not mentioned them before “because I’m not an idiot”.Questioned by Aly over the apparent new terms in his offer to be extradited, Assange said he had not mentioned them before “because I’m not an idiot”.
“We had a major strategic victory in liberating Chelsea Manning … but, of course, saying I’m willing to accept extradition doesn’t mean I’m saying that I’m willing to be a complete idiot and throw all my lawyers away and so on,” he said.“We had a major strategic victory in liberating Chelsea Manning … but, of course, saying I’m willing to accept extradition doesn’t mean I’m saying that I’m willing to be a complete idiot and throw all my lawyers away and so on,” he said.
“We are going to have a discussion with the DoJ about what that looks like. The ball is in their court.”“We are going to have a discussion with the DoJ about what that looks like. The ball is in their court.”
Assange said Obama had commuted Manning’s sentence to get back at him. “What’s the result? It is going to make life hard for Assange because either he will be extradited to the US or we will show him [to be] a liar. Therefore, it is OK to pardon Chelsea Manning – that’s what happened.”Assange said Obama had commuted Manning’s sentence to get back at him. “What’s the result? It is going to make life hard for Assange because either he will be extradited to the US or we will show him [to be] a liar. Therefore, it is OK to pardon Chelsea Manning – that’s what happened.”
Assange also responded to claims that WikiLeaks cost Hillary Clinton the US presidency by publishing emails connected to the Democratic party before the election.Assange also responded to claims that WikiLeaks cost Hillary Clinton the US presidency by publishing emails connected to the Democratic party before the election.
US intelligence officials believe the release was hacked by Russia and passed to WikiLeaks to boost Donald Trump’s bid for the White House. Assange has repeatedly declined to be drawn on the source of the emails he published.US intelligence officials believe the release was hacked by Russia and passed to WikiLeaks to boost Donald Trump’s bid for the White House. Assange has repeatedly declined to be drawn on the source of the emails he published.
Asked by Aly whether he could be “100% certain” that there was no involvement from the Russian state at any stage in the emails’ transmission to WikiLeaks, Assange replied: “I can state clearly, and have stated clearly, that our source is not a member of the Russian government.”Asked by Aly whether he could be “100% certain” that there was no involvement from the Russian state at any stage in the emails’ transmission to WikiLeaks, Assange replied: “I can state clearly, and have stated clearly, that our source is not a member of the Russian government.”
He accused Aly and other members of the media of “shifting goalposts” after demanding that he tell them whether the emails were from the Russian government.He accused Aly and other members of the media of “shifting goalposts” after demanding that he tell them whether the emails were from the Russian government.
“I am not saying anything else other than what we have said, because we can’t play 20 questions about our sources. We can’t eliminate this or that.”“I am not saying anything else other than what we have said, because we can’t play 20 questions about our sources. We can’t eliminate this or that.”