Julian Assange Indictment On U.S. Spying Charges Could Come Soon: Lawyer

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange could soon be indicted on spying charges in the United States, his lawyer tells ABC News. In an interview, attorney Jennifer Robinson says that he could be charged under the Espionage Act.

Assange, whose web site has published classified State Department cables, was arrested in London as part of a sex crimes investigation on Tuesday.

Robinson strongly disagrees with any potential charges of Assange under the Espionage Act. "Our position of course is that we don't believe it applies to Mr. Assange and that in any event he's entitled to First Amendment protection as publisher of Wikileaks and any prosecution under the Espionage Act would in my view be unconstitutional and puts at risk all media organizations in the U.S," she says.

Click here for ABC's full story and scroll down for a video report.

Comments

[random220]

05:33 PM on 12/17/2010

Jim, you are not allowed to be legion.

[Tao-Chan]

01:28 PM on 12/17/2010

"Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety deserve neither Liberty nor Safety." - Benjamin Franklin.

These glorious quotes were made by people who would and actually did risk their lives and property in the name of principles. The signers of the Declaration of Independence were hounded, scorned, murdered, driven out of business and off their land as a direct result of participation, and if they had a choice in retrospect, they would all do it again.
Don't look for this kind of character among the Americans of today.
It's a bit too far out of our comfort zone.
We fully deserve the shackles and chains presently wrapped around our minds.
Fascism in the very real sense runs rampant even as we refuse to call it what it is.

[Josh NC]

09:28 AM on 12/15/2010

More waste of taxpayer's money!!! Spying??? How about Clinton ordering spying on UN delegates? Shouldn't she also be charged by all those countries. The US is becoming so isolated soon we won't be allowed to travel without approval. It's happened in many other countries...

[peterz]

06:02 PM on 12/14/2010

Why aren't charges being brought against everyone in congress who gave Bush the green light to role into Iraq and start a process that's killed over 100,000 innocent people so far and created greater foriegn policy problems which will play out over decades.....

[peterz]

05:59 PM on 12/14/2010

getting more difficut to distinguish Obama from Little Bush as of late.....

[Josh NC]

09:29 AM on 12/15/2010

He's likely gone beyond Bush already.

[greysells2]

08:31 AM on 12/14/2010

Still waiting for the charges 4 days later.

[DrJykell]

04:44 PM on 12/13/2010

What wiki is showing most is how well trained the American media has become and any charges directed in wiki's direction is truly a direct threat to all major media,,, all over the world..
This journalist isn't even an American citizen,,, but i guess if he was the American media wouldn't of let see the light of day,, unless conservative neocons desire to out another CIA agent,, of course.
America has lost it's way,,,,,,,,,

Thus when Robert Novak wrote in his column in the Washington Post that "Valerie Plame... is an agency operative on weapons of mass destruction," he arguably exercised indiscretion by exposing the identity of a CIA agent, thereby jeopardizing her operation and endangering the lives of those working with her. But Novak was not prosecuted for a crime; nor should he have been, even though he may have exercised poor judgment.
The basis of such immunity from prosecution is the need of a Fourth Estate whose purpose it is to keep watch on government and to inform the people when there is a breach of trust. In a democracy, the government is a trustee answerable to the people; and the press is the people's watchdog. http://www.consortiumnews.com/2010/121310a.html

[aspertame2]

03:00 PM on 12/13/2010

In my 2:58 comment, I meant to single out Naomi Wolf and RON Paul. I doubt Rand would even have the stomach to mention Wikileaks, let alone take a side.

[aspertame2]

02:58 PM on 12/13/2010

2 heroes who I can think of, in media and government (I.e. possessing a Bully Pulpit) have shown the courage to speak up directly and personally in defense of Wikileaks, of Julian Assange, and of corageous exercise of political speech: Naomi Wolf, and Rand Paul. I'm sure there are others, but all that comes to my mind after that are those who are condemnatory of WikiLeaks, and those who avoid commenting in all but the most abstract terms.

We should keep a heroes list. These people need to be mentioned often, so that they do not go quietly down to a shared fate with those whom they defend, and to shame those who are standing silent.

[thecarolinakid]

09:18 AM on 12/13/2010

"To preserve the freedom of the human mind... and freedom of the press, every spirit should be ready to devote itself to martyrdom; for as long as we may think as we will and speak as we think, the condition of man will proceed in improvement." - Thomas Jefferson

"A society that will trade a little liberty for a little order will lose both, and deserve neither" - Thomas Jefferson

"Every generation needs a new revolution." - Thomas Jefferson

I am a proud American; descended from men and women who fought and died to fight tyranny.
Go ahead Uncle Sam, attack our freedoms. We will meet you at the White House steps and in the streets of D.C. Our voices will be so loud you cannot ignore us. We will come at you with every peaceful and constitutional means we are entitled. Expect Us.

[Whinger]

08:02 AM on 12/13/2010

All the administration wants to do is to continue playing its shabby two-faced games and keep the American public and the world in the dark!
All too late, for the world has seen the true face and intentions of so called diplomats!

[Mrsuu2]

07:45 AM on 12/13/2010

Got my vote. Who in their right mind could think it's ok to steal information and then display it to our enemies. I love my country. I don't live in a shoe box. I am very much aware of how politics works. You scratch my a-- and I will trade american jobs for 2 republicans. Mr. O, don't let them win, stand and fight for what you believe because there are a lot of people that need your direction. I stand with you.

[DrJykell]

04:46 PM on 12/13/2010

Obama is a fraud,,,,,,,,,,,, journalists need freedom of speech...

[Australopitenico]

06:26 AM on 12/14/2010

Well then, so before thinking your law can be applied anytime, anywhere in the world start applying the Espionage Act to your own media.

[zanzy]

07:12 AM on 12/13/2010

Well sources tell me that the American People will impeach any politician who tries to pass off a journalist as a spy. Call you congress people now and the white house! THis is total BS.

[NebDem78]

03:48 AM on 12/13/2010

Can somebody explain to me how it is even possible at this point in time to justify extending the blessing's of Liberal Democracy to him?

[Dosadi]

07:07 PM on 12/14/2010

He has to be afforded the blessings of liberal democracy because there is no such thing as conservative democracy.

[NebDem78]

09:14 PM on 12/14/2010

I would take that as a non-response response.

[SolarArray]

02:49 AM on 12/13/2010

So when is Cheney being sent to Nigeria for trial?