After promising to surrender to U.S. authorities if Chelsea Manning was given clemency, Julian Assange is now refusing to give himself up. Assange’s attorney says that President Obama’s commutation of Manning’s sentence doesn’t meet the conditions of his client’s offer.
Just days before Obama granted clemency to Manning, WikiLeaks stated that its founder would agree to US extradition “despite clear unconstitutionality” of the government’s case against him. The tweet follows one made last September, when the Assange stated he would “agree to U.S. prison” in exchange for Manning’s clemency.
The White House has officially denied that President Obama’s decision, which reduces Manning’s 35-year sentence to the seven she’s already served, had anything to do with Assange’s offer.
An hour ago, WikiLeaks stated: “Assange is still happy to come to the US provided all his rights are guaranteed [sic] despite White House now saying Manning was not quid-quo-pro.”
Assange’s attorney followed up the WikiLeaks statement by saying that Manning’s clemency did not meet the conditions of Assange’s offer. “Mr. Assange welcomes the announcement that Ms. Manning’s sentence will be reduced and she will be released in May, but this is well short of what he sought,” said Barry Pollack via an email to The Hill. “Mr. Assange had called for Chelsea Manning to receive clemency and be released immediately.”
The United Nations has since issued a statement on both Manning and Assange, urging the UK and Swedish governments to recognize the contribution of whistleblowers instead of prosecuting them.
“I urge the UK and Swedish Governments to strengthen the human rights system by giving effect to the recommendation of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. I am concerned that despite the opinion of the Working Group neither Government has taken steps toward implementation and Mr. Assange finds himself a refugee under the diplomatic protection of Ecuador.
It is time for this abnormal and inhuman situation to end.”
The Justice Department has not publicly charged Assange with any crimes, but his legal team believes he will be held accountable for his role in disseminating the confidential documents leaked to him by Chelsea Manning and Edward Snowden. Assange’s legal team believes he may be charged “under seal” to prevent him from fleeing the law.
Ian Miles Cheong is a journalist and outspoken media critic. You can reach him through social media at @stillgray on Twitter and on Facebook.