Assange's Partner Kicks Off CrowdJustice Defense Fund Campaign
As WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange London continues to wait in jail for a COVID-19 delayed trial that could see him extradited to the United States to face espionage charges, his partner, Stella Moris, launched a CrowdJustice campaign to help fund his defense.
Assange is said to be in poor health and has rallied supporters around the world – including, if belatedly – journalists who said they fear being next in line should he be successfully prosecuted for revealing an American air strike in Baghdad that killed civilians and two Reuters reporters.
If sent to the US, he could face espionage and conspiracy charges for allegedly trying to help ex-US Army whistleblower Chelsea Manning that could bring a 175-year prison sentence, said media reports.
The initial response brought in the equivalent of $8,913 for a $32,809 target in the first hour, with Moris – who has two sons with Assange – reaching out to supporters. The goal is 500,000 British pounds, about $669,498.
She said it was an attempt to “fight against extradition and his continuing imprisonment,” while warning the case sets a dangerous precedent for press freedom around the world.
Moris said: “Julian is being targeted by the United States administration for the crime of journalism. He helped expose war crimes and human rights abuses which the US would have preferred to keep hidden from public view. No-one has been held responsible for the serious crimes Julian has exposed. This extradition aims to entomb and silence him forever,” Britain's Daily Mail reported.
The Obama Administration, which brought eight prosecutions based on the century-old Espionage Act – more than every government combined – went after journalists and whistleblowers but not Assange.
Assange backers said he rightfully exposed US war crimes and human rights abuses.
He was first charged with 18 counts related to receiving and publishing government documents, but the prosecution changed the indictment to broaden its reach, leaving his defense team scrambling to react and prepare for the next hearing Sept. 7.