We do not arrest news people in the US for publishing...even if it is classified information. He is not a citizen so will different laws apply?
This post was edited by my2cents at April 11, 2019 2:39 PM MDT
He is accused of hacking into our government's computers for the purpose of obtaining and disseminating classified information detrimental to this country. The First Amendment does not include hacking for this purpose.
I had not heard the charge. I know they have always said he did not do any hacking himself just publishing on Wikileaks. Maybe they learned some new info.
I believe they added more charges including conspiring with that transgender soldier to obtain classified information. I didn't catch all of the charges when it came on the news - I was doing something.
So, the only charge (at this time) against Assange "stems from what prosecutors said was his agreement to break a password to a classified United States government computer."
"Reporters have expressed concern that charges for publishing stolen documents could erode the First Amendment, but Assange's charge is for hacking, not publishing, the documents he obtained with Chelsea Manning." Therefore, this is not a First Amendment issue.
The quotes are from an Axios PM email I received this evening, but I can't seem to link it for you to check it out.