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| Julian Assange: US charges WikiLeaks founder with violating Espionage Act – live | Julian Assange: US charges WikiLeaks founder with violating Espionage Act – live |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Here’s some late-day humor to cleanse your breaking news palate: Washington governor Jay Inslee, who is running for president on a platform to defeat climate change, piles on to the Onion’s Captain Planet joke: | |
| This was supposed to be off the record. https://t.co/y8ns10UOKw | |
| This version of the legislation that would provide $19.1bn to aid Americans from a series of recent national disasters does NOT include more funding for the border, as the White House requested. | This version of the legislation that would provide $19.1bn to aid Americans from a series of recent national disasters does NOT include more funding for the border, as the White House requested. |
| Senate PASSES disaster aid funding by a huge margin vote of 85 to 8, President said he would sign it. | Senate PASSES disaster aid funding by a huge margin vote of 85 to 8, President said he would sign it. |
| Hey everybody, Vivian Ho taking over for Amanda Holpuch. Happy Thursday. | Hey everybody, Vivian Ho taking over for Amanda Holpuch. Happy Thursday. |
| The Department of Justice has charged WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange for publishing classified information. Prosecutors on Thursday unveiled 17 additional charges against Assange, who was previously indicted on a charge of working to hack a Pentagon computer system. | The Department of Justice has charged WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange for publishing classified information. Prosecutors on Thursday unveiled 17 additional charges against Assange, who was previously indicted on a charge of working to hack a Pentagon computer system. |
| Republican representative Justin Amash repeated his calls for Donald Trump’s impeachment, outlining on Twitter how the Mueller report showed the president committed impeachable offenses. | Republican representative Justin Amash repeated his calls for Donald Trump’s impeachment, outlining on Twitter how the Mueller report showed the president committed impeachable offenses. |
| Trump announced today that he is providing $16 bn in aid to farmers hurt by his trade policies after failed trade talks with China. One of the farmer’s at a White House ceremony for the announcement wore a hat that said “Make Potatoes Great Again,” then confirmed to reporters that potatoes were always great. | Trump announced today that he is providing $16 bn in aid to farmers hurt by his trade policies after failed trade talks with China. One of the farmer’s at a White House ceremony for the announcement wore a hat that said “Make Potatoes Great Again,” then confirmed to reporters that potatoes were always great. |
| Congress reached a deal on a disaster relief bill that had been stalled for weeks, because of setbacks including the president’s reluctance to provide aid money to Puerto Rico. | Congress reached a deal on a disaster relief bill that had been stalled for weeks, because of setbacks including the president’s reluctance to provide aid money to Puerto Rico. |
| The Guardian’s Jon Swaine has the latest on the Assange indictment, which not only raises questions about the freedom of the press but also could complicate attempts to extradite Assange from London. | The Guardian’s Jon Swaine has the latest on the Assange indictment, which not only raises questions about the freedom of the press but also could complicate attempts to extradite Assange from London. |
| The new indictment, approved on Thursday by a grand jury in Virginia, detailed how Assange and WikiLeaks published troves of documents that they received from Chelsea Manning, then a US army intelligence analyst. | The new indictment, approved on Thursday by a grand jury in Virginia, detailed how Assange and WikiLeaks published troves of documents that they received from Chelsea Manning, then a US army intelligence analyst. |
| Some of the files were published by WikiLeaks in partnership with international news organisations including the Guardian. | Some of the files were published by WikiLeaks in partnership with international news organisations including the Guardian. |
| Manning was convicted in 2013 under the Espionage Act for stealing classified records. She was released from a military prison in Kansas in May 2017 after serving seven years of a 35-year sentence. Barack Obama granted Manning clemency during his final days in office. | Manning was convicted in 2013 under the Espionage Act for stealing classified records. She was released from a military prison in Kansas in May 2017 after serving seven years of a 35-year sentence. Barack Obama granted Manning clemency during his final days in office. |
| Thursday’s indictment said Manning had responded to public appeals from Assange in 2009 for people with access to classified information to leak it to WikiLeaks, violating their legal obligations to keep it secret. | Thursday’s indictment said Manning had responded to public appeals from Assange in 2009 for people with access to classified information to leak it to WikiLeaks, violating their legal obligations to keep it secret. |
| US charges WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange for publishing classified information | US charges WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange for publishing classified information |
| Some early, quick analysis on the impact an Espionage Act charge could have on legal interpretations of the press’s right to publish classified information. | Some early, quick analysis on the impact an Espionage Act charge could have on legal interpretations of the press’s right to publish classified information. |
| Natasha Bertrand, national security correspondent at Politico: | Natasha Bertrand, national security correspondent at Politico: |
| However, traditionally the Espionage Act has been used against US government officials, like Manning, who reveal such classified information, rather than foreign nationals who publish the information. | However, traditionally the Espionage Act has been used against US government officials, like Manning, who reveal such classified information, rather than foreign nationals who publish the information. |
| Matthew Miller, a Justice Department official in the Obama adminstration: | Matthew Miller, a Justice Department official in the Obama adminstration: |
| As I’ve been saying for several years, there are very good reasons we didn’t charge this theory in the Obama admin. And it’s not like we had a record reporters loved on these issues. https://t.co/V11PvEF28x | As I’ve been saying for several years, there are very good reasons we didn’t charge this theory in the Obama admin. And it’s not like we had a record reporters loved on these issues. https://t.co/V11PvEF28x |
| Meanwhile ... | Meanwhile ... |
| Trump just now: “I’m an extremely stable genius." | Trump just now: “I’m an extremely stable genius." |
| When the “extremely stable genius” starts acting more presidential, I’ll be happy to work with him on infrastructure, trade and other issues. https://t.co/tfWVkj9CLT | When the “extremely stable genius” starts acting more presidential, I’ll be happy to work with him on infrastructure, trade and other issues. https://t.co/tfWVkj9CLT |
| WikiLeaks responded to the new charges in a Tweet, that warns the new indictment is “the end of national security journalism” and the US Constitution’s free speech amendment. | WikiLeaks responded to the new charges in a Tweet, that warns the new indictment is “the end of national security journalism” and the US Constitution’s free speech amendment. |
| This is madness. It is the end of national security journalism and the first amendment. https://t.co/wlhsmsenFw | This is madness. It is the end of national security journalism and the first amendment. https://t.co/wlhsmsenFw |
| By pursuing Espionage Act charges against Assange, the Justice department is escalating the US government’s crack down on classified information leaks. | By pursuing Espionage Act charges against Assange, the Justice department is escalating the US government’s crack down on classified information leaks. |
| This could have a major impact on the rights of journalists because it is difficult to significantly distinguish the work Assange has done from that of a traditional newspaper. | This could have a major impact on the rights of journalists because it is difficult to significantly distinguish the work Assange has done from that of a traditional newspaper. |
| No journalist has been charged under the Espionage Act. Barack Obama’s administration did not bring Espionage Act charges against Assange because of concerns it would chill press freedom. | No journalist has been charged under the Espionage Act. Barack Obama’s administration did not bring Espionage Act charges against Assange because of concerns it would chill press freedom. |
| Last month, the executive director of the Freedom of the Press Foundation, Trevor Timm, wrote for the Guardian about an earlier Assange indictment and how it showed the Justice Department was trying to reign in press freedom laws in the US: | Last month, the executive director of the Freedom of the Press Foundation, Trevor Timm, wrote for the Guardian about an earlier Assange indictment and how it showed the Justice Department was trying to reign in press freedom laws in the US: |
| The larger context surrounding this case is almost as important as the Assange indictment itself. Donald Trump has been furious with leakers and the news organizations that publish them ever since he took office. He complains about it constantly in his Twitter tirades. He has repeatedly directed the justice department to stop leaks, and he even asked former FBI director James Comey if he can put journalists in jail. | The larger context surrounding this case is almost as important as the Assange indictment itself. Donald Trump has been furious with leakers and the news organizations that publish them ever since he took office. He complains about it constantly in his Twitter tirades. He has repeatedly directed the justice department to stop leaks, and he even asked former FBI director James Comey if he can put journalists in jail. |
| The indictment says that Assange, 47, was complicit with Chelsea Manning, a former intelligence officer and whistleblower, in unlawfully obtaining and disclosing classified documents related to national defense. | The indictment says that Assange, 47, was complicit with Chelsea Manning, a former intelligence officer and whistleblower, in unlawfully obtaining and disclosing classified documents related to national defense. |
| Assange conspired with Manning; aided and abetted her in obtaining classified information and received and attempted to receive classified information, according to the indictment. | Assange conspired with Manning; aided and abetted her in obtaining classified information and received and attempted to receive classified information, according to the indictment. |
| “Many of these documents were classified at the Secret level, meaning that their unauthorized disclosure could cause serious damage to the United States national security,” the DoJ said in a statement. | “Many of these documents were classified at the Secret level, meaning that their unauthorized disclosure could cause serious damage to the United States national security,” the DoJ said in a statement. |
| WikiLeaks databases included approximately 90,000 Afghanistan war-related significant activity reports, 400,000 Iraq war-related significant activity reports, 800 Guantanamo Bay detainee assessment briefs and 250,000 US State Department cables. | WikiLeaks databases included approximately 90,000 Afghanistan war-related significant activity reports, 400,000 Iraq war-related significant activity reports, 800 Guantanamo Bay detainee assessment briefs and 250,000 US State Department cables. |
| The Justice Department just announced WikiLeaks Founder Julian Assange has been charged with violating the Espionage Act in an 18-count indictment that said he “risked serious harm” to the US. | The Justice Department just announced WikiLeaks Founder Julian Assange has been charged with violating the Espionage Act in an 18-count indictment that said he “risked serious harm” to the US. |
| Assange is currently jailed in London, where he was arrested last month after spending several years in the Ecuadorian embassy there. | Assange is currently jailed in London, where he was arrested last month after spending several years in the Ecuadorian embassy there. |
| According to the AP, the new indictment says Assange conspired with Chelsea Manning to obtain and disclose classified national defense documents, including State Department cables and reports on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. | According to the AP, the new indictment says Assange conspired with Chelsea Manning to obtain and disclose classified national defense documents, including State Department cables and reports on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. |
| At the White House, Trump just discussed the $16bn in aid he is giving to farmers hurt by his trade policies. | At the White House, Trump just discussed the $16bn in aid he is giving to farmers hurt by his trade policies. |
| An Idaho potato farmer in the audience, Dan Moss, wore a hat that said “Make Potatoes Great Again.” | An Idaho potato farmer in the audience, Dan Moss, wore a hat that said “Make Potatoes Great Again.” |
| Farmers and ranchers assemble in Roosevelt Room to hear Pres Trump's remarks to help their sector. Among them is potato farmer Dan Moss, wearing "Make Potatoes Great Again" cap. pic.twitter.com/rUOoTSoOrx | Farmers and ranchers assemble in Roosevelt Room to hear Pres Trump's remarks to help their sector. Among them is potato farmer Dan Moss, wearing "Make Potatoes Great Again" cap. pic.twitter.com/rUOoTSoOrx |
| The pool report says a reporter asked Moss if there was ever a time when potatoes were “not” great and Moss responded, with a smile, “Oh no, potatoes have always been great.” | The pool report says a reporter asked Moss if there was ever a time when potatoes were “not” great and Moss responded, with a smile, “Oh no, potatoes have always been great.” |
| Attorney Tracey Steele pointed out in a Twitter thread this morning that as a tornado ripped through Missouri and killed at least three people, the National Weather Service issued a tornado warning alerting people to get out of its path. | Attorney Tracey Steele pointed out in a Twitter thread this morning that as a tornado ripped through Missouri and killed at least three people, the National Weather Service issued a tornado warning alerting people to get out of its path. |
| Steele said Trump’s pick to head the agency that oversees the National Weather Service, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa), has a potential conflict of interest because of his role as former CEO of the for-profit company AccuWeather. | Steele said Trump’s pick to head the agency that oversees the National Weather Service, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa), has a potential conflict of interest because of his role as former CEO of the for-profit company AccuWeather. |
| It's impossible to know how many lives were saved in Jefferson City last night thanks to the warnings issued by the National Weather Service. This post is a reminder that Donald Trump appointed the CEO of Accuweather to lead the NWS. 1/ | It's impossible to know how many lives were saved in Jefferson City last night thanks to the warnings issued by the National Weather Service. This post is a reminder that Donald Trump appointed the CEO of Accuweather to lead the NWS. 1/ |
| Accuweather has actively lobbied for years to keep the NWS from issuing weather information directly to the public, because Accuweather doesn't want the competition. 2/ | Accuweather has actively lobbied for years to keep the NWS from issuing weather information directly to the public, because Accuweather doesn't want the competition. 2/ |
| Trump has nominated Barry Lee Myers, the former CEO of AccuWeather, to head Noaa. He’s been a controversial figure since Trump appointed him in 2017, and has not been confirmed by the full Senate, though a committee approved him last month. | Trump has nominated Barry Lee Myers, the former CEO of AccuWeather, to head Noaa. He’s been a controversial figure since Trump appointed him in 2017, and has not been confirmed by the full Senate, though a committee approved him last month. |
| Myers and his company have argued for the weather service to release less information to the public - leaving for-profit companies like AccuWeather to capitalize on the government data. | Myers and his company have argued for the weather service to release less information to the public - leaving for-profit companies like AccuWeather to capitalize on the government data. |
| Trump announced today that he is providing $16bn in aid to farmers hurt by his trade policies after failed trade talks with China, reports the AP: | Trump announced today that he is providing $16bn in aid to farmers hurt by his trade policies after failed trade talks with China, reports the AP: |
| US agriculture secretary Sonny Perdue said the first of three payments is likely to be made in July or August, according to the AP. Purdue suggested it was unlikely a trade deal would be done by then, a sign that US negotiators could be months away from settling a bitter trade dispute with China. | US agriculture secretary Sonny Perdue said the first of three payments is likely to be made in July or August, according to the AP. Purdue suggested it was unlikely a trade deal would be done by then, a sign that US negotiators could be months away from settling a bitter trade dispute with China. |
| “The package we’re announcing today ensures that farmers do not bear the brunt of unfair retaliatory tariffs imposed by China and other trading partners,” Perdue said. The latest bailout comes atop $11bn in aid Trump provided farmers last year. | “The package we’re announcing today ensures that farmers do not bear the brunt of unfair retaliatory tariffs imposed by China and other trading partners,” Perdue said. The latest bailout comes atop $11bn in aid Trump provided farmers last year. |
| Trump, seeking to reduce America’s trade deficit with the rest of the world and with China in particular, has imposed import taxes on foreign steel, aluminum, solar panels and dishwashers and on thousands of Chinese products. | Trump, seeking to reduce America’s trade deficit with the rest of the world and with China in particular, has imposed import taxes on foreign steel, aluminum, solar panels and dishwashers and on thousands of Chinese products. |
| US trading partners have lashed back with retaliatory tariffs of their own, focusing on US agricultural products in a direct shot at the American heartlands, where support for Trump runs high. | US trading partners have lashed back with retaliatory tariffs of their own, focusing on US agricultural products in a direct shot at the American heartlands, where support for Trump runs high. |
| Stephen Calk, who was charged today by the Southern District of New York for attempting to buy a spot in the Trump administration by approving high-risk loans for a former Trump campaign advisor, is set to appear in court this afternoon. | Stephen Calk, who was charged today by the Southern District of New York for attempting to buy a spot in the Trump administration by approving high-risk loans for a former Trump campaign advisor, is set to appear in court this afternoon. |
| Calk was also a former economic adviser to Trump’s 2016 campaign. | Calk was also a former economic adviser to Trump’s 2016 campaign. |
| Calk, 54, approved $16mn in high risk loans to former Trump campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, that were ultimately downgraded, according to the indictment. Manafort lobbied for Calk to be considered for Secretary of the Army, though Calk also provided a ranked list of other government roles he wanted. | Calk, 54, approved $16mn in high risk loans to former Trump campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, that were ultimately downgraded, according to the indictment. Manafort lobbied for Calk to be considered for Secretary of the Army, though Calk also provided a ranked list of other government roles he wanted. |
| The president’s transition team interviewed Calk in January 2017, according to prosecutors, though he never got an administration post. | The president’s transition team interviewed Calk in January 2017, according to prosecutors, though he never got an administration post. |
| Calk’s attorney, Jeremy Margolis, told the Washington Post that the charges are a “travesty.” | Calk’s attorney, Jeremy Margolis, told the Washington Post that the charges are a “travesty.” |
| “Mr. Calk has done nothing wrong and will be exonerated at trial of the baseless isolated charge brought against him,” Margolis of Loeb & Loeb said in a statement. | “Mr. Calk has done nothing wrong and will be exonerated at trial of the baseless isolated charge brought against him,” Margolis of Loeb & Loeb said in a statement. |
| Congress may have finally reached a breakthrough on a disaster relief bill that stalled for weeks because of setbacks including the president’s reluctance to provide aid money to Puerto Rico. | Congress may have finally reached a breakthrough on a disaster relief bill that stalled for weeks because of setbacks including the president’s reluctance to provide aid money to Puerto Rico. |
| Congressional reporters said the Senate will vote today on a disaster aid bill that Trump has said he will support. The bill will not include more funding for the border, which the White House requested, according to reports. | Congressional reporters said the Senate will vote today on a disaster aid bill that Trump has said he will support. The bill will not include more funding for the border, which the White House requested, according to reports. |
| It will include money for Puerto Rico, which has so far received $11.2bn of $40.8bn allocated to assist its recovery from Hurricane Maria. | It will include money for Puerto Rico, which has so far received $11.2bn of $40.8bn allocated to assist its recovery from Hurricane Maria. |
| NEW: Senators says there is a bipartisan deal on a disaster relief package that would provide $19.1 billion to states ravaged by natural disasters. Puerto Rico would get $900 million, says Sen. Richard Shelby | NEW: Senators says there is a bipartisan deal on a disaster relief package that would provide $19.1 billion to states ravaged by natural disasters. Puerto Rico would get $900 million, says Sen. Richard Shelby |
| Republican representative Justin Amash is reiterating his calls for Donald Trump’s impeachment. | Republican representative Justin Amash is reiterating his calls for Donald Trump’s impeachment. |
| This past weekend, Amash tweeted the acts outlined in special counsel Robert Mueller’s report on Russian interference in the 2016 election amounted to “impeachable offenses.” | This past weekend, Amash tweeted the acts outlined in special counsel Robert Mueller’s report on Russian interference in the 2016 election amounted to “impeachable offenses.” |
| Republicans were not happy about it – but that didn’t stop Amash from making the case for impeachment, again, on Thursday afternoon. | Republicans were not happy about it – but that didn’t stop Amash from making the case for impeachment, again, on Thursday afternoon. |
| In a series of 20 (!) tweets, Amash outlined examples of impeachable offenses recorded in the Mueller report. | In a series of 20 (!) tweets, Amash outlined examples of impeachable offenses recorded in the Mueller report. |
| Some of the president’s actions were inherently corrupt. Other actions were corrupt—and therefore impeachable—because the president took them to serve his own interests. | Some of the president’s actions were inherently corrupt. Other actions were corrupt—and therefore impeachable—because the president took them to serve his own interests. |
| Hours before Amash sent these tweets, the Democratic house leader, Nancy Pelosi, said she would not pursue impeachment at this stage, though she said the president had committed impeachable offenses. | Hours before Amash sent these tweets, the Democratic house leader, Nancy Pelosi, said she would not pursue impeachment at this stage, though she said the president had committed impeachable offenses. |
| There’s an interesting article in the Atlantic about how Barack Obama is “more popular than Jesus” among Democrats, but the crowded field seeking the party’s nomination for the 2020 election doesn’t quite know what to do with his popularity: | There’s an interesting article in the Atlantic about how Barack Obama is “more popular than Jesus” among Democrats, but the crowded field seeking the party’s nomination for the 2020 election doesn’t quite know what to do with his popularity: |
| Obama remains firm that he won’t endorse soon, while aides are stressing that he might get involved later in the process—presumably, the thinking goes, to stop a candidate he sees as too divisive or likely to lose from becoming the nominee. (This hasn’t been specified, but most assume it would be to stop Bernie Sanders.) | Obama remains firm that he won’t endorse soon, while aides are stressing that he might get involved later in the process—presumably, the thinking goes, to stop a candidate he sees as too divisive or likely to lose from becoming the nominee. (This hasn’t been specified, but most assume it would be to stop Bernie Sanders.) |
| Obama and his aides have carefully guarded when and how to deploy him; some have even theorized he could be called on to broker who the 2020 nominee is, if the primaries finish without a clear winner and Democrats face a contested convention. | Obama and his aides have carefully guarded when and how to deploy him; some have even theorized he could be called on to broker who the 2020 nominee is, if the primaries finish without a clear winner and Democrats face a contested convention. |