WASHINGTON — In a case with significant First Amendment implications, the U.S. filed new charges Thursday against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, accusing him of violating the Espionage Act by publishing secret documents containing the names of confidential military and diplomatic sources. It says the WikiLeaks founder, currently in custody in London, damaged national security by publishing documents that harmed the U.S. and its allies and aided its adversaries. Those same concerns led the Obama administration Justice Department to balk at bringing charges for similar conduct. Prosecutors sought throughout the document to make a distinction between what Assange did as the founder and “public face” of WikiLeaks and the work of journalists. Assange said in an August 2010 interview that it was “regrettable” that sources disclosed by WikiLeaks could be harmed, the indictment says.

Source: National Post May 23, 2019 20:07 UTC