Republican Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Democrat Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA) have come together in a rare show of bipartisan unity to urge President Joe Biden to pardon WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. The congressmen, both long-time advocates for press freedom, sent a joint letter emphasizing the troubling precedent set by Assange’s plea agreement under the Espionage Act.
In their letter, the lawmakers expressed gratitude for the administration’s decision earlier this year to negotiate a plea deal that ended Assange’s detention in the UK. However, they voiced deep concern over the Espionage Act charges, which they say threaten press freedoms by targeting publishers who report on sensitive information.
“Mr. Assange’s case marks the first time the Espionage Act has been used against a publisher,” the letter stated. It cited concerns from Jodie Ginsberg, CEO of the Committee to Protect Journalists, who warned that prosecuting journalists under this act sets a “harmful legal precedent.”
Assange, who had been imprisoned for five years in the UK’s Belmarsh prison following his seven-year asylum in the Ecuadorian Embassy, reached a plea deal allowing him to return to his native Australia. He pled guilty to charges of “Conspiracy To Obtain and Disclose National Defense Information” and was sentenced to 62 months, credited for time served.
The congressmen argue that a pardon would undo the precedent set by the case and reaffirm the United States’ commitment to press freedom. “A pardon would send a clear message that the U.S. government under your leadership will not target or investigate journalists and media outlets simply for doing their jobs,” they wrote.
Massie and McGovern have consistently opposed the prosecution of Assange. Last year, they led a coalition of 16 lawmakers calling on the Biden administration to drop all charges and halt extradition proceedings.
Assange’s case stems from his publication of the Iraq and Afghanistan War Logs, provided by whistleblower Chelsea Manning. While the plea deal allowed Assange to avoid a potential 175-year sentence, critics argue the case has lasting implications for journalists worldwide.
The joint letter amplifies calls for a reassessment of the U.S.’s stance on press freedom and whistleblowing, particularly as the legal precedent continues to draw criticism from advocates and lawmakers alike.
