# Julian Assange (remember him?) update **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 5, 2016, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/julian-assange-remember-him-update/745210 "2016-02-05T07:20:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 19
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/julian-assange-remember-him-update/745210/361 "2019-04-11T12:50:45Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > The previous president of Ecuador has a difference of opinion: That guy talks like Trump. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/julian-assange-remember-him-update/745210/362 "2019-04-11T12:53:41Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > That entire argument depends on the idea that it’s easier for the US to nab Assange from Sweden than from the UK. > > Why is that? QED. Sorry **NP** , love ya, but it was bleedin obvious. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/julian-assange-remember-him-update/745210/363 "2019-04-11T13:00:02Z")
In the video of his arrest, he yells out something about the “[Trump administration](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAZlBa86jA4&feature=youtu.be&t=27)” at 0:27, but I can’t make out what surrounds it. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/julian-assange-remember-him-update/745210/364 "2019-04-11T13:07:12Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > QED. > Sorry **NP** , love ya, but it was bleedin obvious. Can you be more specific? ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/julian-assange-remember-him-update/745210/365 "2019-04-11T13:09:37Z")
MSNBC is reporting that the US is charging him with crimes related to his conspiring with Chelsea Manning in computer crimes. ---
**Author:** ![GreenWyvern](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/greenwyvern/32/2834_2.png) [@GreenWyvern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenWyvern)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/julian-assange-remember-him-update/745210/366 "2019-04-11T13:24:33Z")
An [update](https://www.justice.gov/usao-edva/pr/wikileaks-founder-charged-computer-hacking-conspiracy) from the US Dept of Justice on the charge he faces. - The extradition request “relates to a federal charge of conspiracy to commit computer intrusion for agreeing to break a password to a classified U.S. government computer.” - He allegedly helped and encouraged Manning to hack Department of Defense computers. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 5 years. Also… a Swedish lawyer for one of Assange’s accusers has submitted a request to the Swedish prosecutor’s office to reopen the case there. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/julian-assange-remember-him-update/745210/367 "2019-04-11T13:28:46Z")
This is good news. Very glad to hear it. Obligatory _Monty Python_ link: [Monty Python (Life of Brian)- You're nicked! - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1CGauwoKcw) ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/julian-assange-remember-him-update/745210/368 "2019-04-11T13:29:42Z")
I suppose he will never have to worry about which shoes to wear to lunch ever again. ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/julian-assange-remember-him-update/745210/369 "2019-04-11T13:33:40Z")
What’s the majority feeling here? That he’s getting what he deserves? Did he do anything of use to the public at all? I must admit I’m conflicted. I don’t trust governments at all but I’m not sure I trust Assange either. If it were Snowden arrested I’d be completely on his side. With Assange however … meh. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/julian-assange-remember-him-update/745210/370 "2019-04-11T13:39:02Z")
From the video it appears that he had to be physically dragged from the embassy. It looks like he hasn’t shaved in quite some time. That makes me wonder if he’s been neglecting his hygiene in general due to mental health issues. I recall that there were reports regarding keeping his surroundings neat and properly caring for his cat. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/julian-assange-remember-him-update/745210/371 "2019-04-11T13:39:23Z")
> [@aldiboronti](#): > > What’s the majority feeling here? That he’s getting what he deserves? Did he do anything of use to the public at all? I must admit I’m conflicted. I don’t trust governments at all but I’m not sure I trust Assange either. If it were Snowden arrested I’d be completely on his side. With Assange however … meh. My view is that he most definitely is, to quote another poster, “an egotistical prick who had no regard for anything other than his own personal glorification” who is guilty of a wide assortment of actual offenses. It may also be the case that the US has been exaggerating or making up charges as well in order to be able to get their hands on him and make an example of him, but Assange is no hero here. It’s entirely possible for all sides of a conflict to be the bad guys. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/julian-assange-remember-him-update/745210/372 "2019-04-11T13:45:07Z")
Skipping bail when facing serious charges and leaving your friends holding the bag is a dick move, no matter who does it. ---
**Author:** ![GreenWyvern](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/greenwyvern/32/2834_2.png) [@GreenWyvern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenWyvern)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/julian-assange-remember-him-update/745210/373 "2019-04-11T13:54:36Z")
> [@aldiboronti](#): > > What’s the majority feeling here? That he’s getting what he deserves? Did he do anything of use to the public at all? I must admit I’m conflicted. I don’t trust governments at all but I’m not sure I trust Assange either. If it were Snowden arrested I’d be completely on his side. With Assange however … meh. The thing about Assange and Wikileaks is that they are pursuing their own agenda. They are not publishing information of public interest in a neutral way. They actively helped Trump to be elected, and they have been taking Putin’s side on all possible occasions. You’re never going to see information damaging to Trump or Putin being published by Wikileaks. The charges don’t relate to publishing hacked material (even material hacked by Russian intelligence and passed on to Wikileaks), so there is no problem or precedent created for journalists, or for freedom of speech. The charge of actively engaging in hacking himself is plausible, and I have no problem with it. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/julian-assange-remember-him-update/745210/374 "2019-04-11T14:07:39Z")
Interestingly, the WikiLeaks website is still up and accessible, and still making documents available. It posted new material as recently as January of this year. In September 2017 it published documents describing Russian cell phone surveillance technology. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/julian-assange-remember-him-update/745210/375 "2019-04-11T14:08:23Z")
> [@aldiboronti](#): > > What’s the majority feeling here? That he’s getting what he deserves? Did he do anything of use to the public at all? I must admit I’m conflicted. I don’t trust governments at all but I’m not sure I trust Assange either. If it were Snowden arrested I’d be completely on his side. With Assange however … meh. I think the guy is a grade-A prick on many fronts, and I think very little of him or his cult of personality supporters who embrace so many frankly stupid conspiracy theories… but I’m not sure what U.S. laws he broke. If the case is as simple as Manning stealing a bunch of documents and giving them to Assange to publish, then I’m not sure if Assange did anything criminal if the matter is just that simple. Did Manning break the law? Oh yeah. Did Assange if he merely published the documents? I don’t really think so… It could very well be that there is more to the Manning-Assange story that would make me conclude otherwise, so I’m happy to let him sit in jail pending his extradition hearing and let the story develop. ---
**Author:** ![GreenWyvern](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/greenwyvern/32/2834_2.png) [@GreenWyvern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenWyvern)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/julian-assange-remember-him-update/745210/376 "2019-04-11T14:11:26Z")
Assange has now been found guilty in the Westminster Magistrates Court of failing to surrender to bail. He pleaded not guilty, and declined to give evidence. He will have a sentencing hearing on May 2, and faces a sentence of up to 12 months. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/julian-assange-remember-him-update/745210/377 "2019-04-11T14:18:44Z")
Assange hides out for almost seven years to avoid a 12 month prison term? Homer Simpson: He did it cause he’s stupid. That’s the only reason anybody does anything. ---
**Author:** ![GreenWyvern](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/greenwyvern/32/2834_2.png) [@GreenWyvern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenWyvern)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/julian-assange-remember-him-update/745210/378 "2019-04-11T14:40:46Z")
> [@GreenWyvern](#): > > He will have a sentencing hearing on May 2, and faces a sentence of up to 12 months. Sorry, it’s the US extradition request that will be heard on May 2. The date of the sentencing hearing for skipping bail is yet to be set. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/julian-assange-remember-him-update/745210/379 "2019-04-11T15:00:00Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > I think the guy is a grade-A prick on many fronts, and I think very little of him or his cult of personality supporters who embrace so many frankly stupid conspiracy theories… but I’m not sure what U.S. laws he broke. If the case is as simple as Manning stealing a bunch of documents and giving them to Assange to publish, then I’m not sure if Assange did anything criminal if the matter is just that simple. Did Manning break the law? Oh yeah. Did Assange if he merely published the documents? I don’t really think so… The charges seem to rest on the fact that Assange actively encouraged the hacking by Manning. From the Guardian live feed linked earlier: > [@](#): > > Assange is accused of “actively encouraging” Manning to provide more information. According to the indictment, when Manning told him that she had sent WikiLeaks all she had, Assange replied: “Curious eyes never run dry in my experience.” ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/julian-assange-remember-him-update/745210/380 "2019-04-11T15:09:51Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > I think the guy is a grade-A prick on many fronts, and I think very little of him or his cult of personality supporters who embrace so many frankly stupid conspiracy theories… but I’m not sure what U.S. laws he broke. If the case is as simple as Manning stealing a bunch of documents and giving them to Assange to publish, then I’m not sure if Assange did anything criminal if the matter is just that simple. Did Manning break the law? Oh yeah. Did Assange if he merely published the documents? I don’t really think so… > > It could very well be that there is more to the Manning-Assange story that would make me conclude otherwise, so I’m happy to let him sit in jail pending his extradition hearing and let the story develop. Supposedly he hacked a Pentagon password for Manning. So it’s more than just publishing information. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/julian-assange-remember-him-update/745210.md?page=18) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/julian-assange-remember-him-update/745210.md?page=20)