# 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:** 20
**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, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/julian-assange-remember-him-update/745210/381 "2019-04-11T15:14:17Z")
Am I the only one that finds the timing of this with the Mueller report interesting? ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/julian-assange-remember-him-update/745210/382 "2019-04-11T15:19:23Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > QED. > > Sorry **NP** , love ya, but it was bleedin obvious. I’ve never disputed that he could get extradited from Britain to the US. My point throughout the extradition debates in this thread was that it made no sense to argue that the extradition request from Sweden would make it easier for the US to get extradition, than for the US to extradite him from the UK. Given the laws governing extradition, if the UK extradited him to Sweden, and the US then applied to Sweden for extradition, both Sweden and Britain would have to consent to the extradition. I’ve never seen any real response to that argument from anyone who suggested the extradition request from Sweden somehow made it easier for the US to extradite. In fact, if memory serves, somewhere in this thread I posted links to British news articles that were critical of the British government for extraditing to the US too easily. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/julian-assange-remember-him-update/745210/383 "2019-04-11T15:24:43Z")
The real question is whether he has any dirt on Trump. I’d be a bit surprised if he didn’t. If he does he may be able to finagle a pardon. ---
**Author:** ![MichaelEmouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/michaelemouse/32/101_2.png) [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/julian-assange-remember-him-update/745210/384 "2019-04-11T15:27:16Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > 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. The question is more about his usefulness than personality. A lot of people who do extraordinary things or are in the public eye are egotistical pricks with no regards for anything other than their own personal glorification. If they channel that into something good, that’s what matters as long as you keep in mind that they should be on a short leash on some matters. > [@GreenWyvern](#): > > 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. That makes me wonder why there hasn’t been a similar Wikileaks for other governments. Sure, anyone who played that game with the Russian government would have to remain anonymous or they’d end up dead pretty soon. Where are all the white hat hackers I keep hearing about? Are they more interested in defacing stodgy corporate websites with 4chan memes? If the leaking has been as one-sided as you say, then Assange may be a Russian proxy front. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/julian-assange-remember-him-update/745210/385 "2019-04-11T15:50:06Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > Am I the only one that finds the timing of this with the Mueller report interesting? > [@bobot](#): > > No extradition to a country that tortures? Damn, we lose. It’s probably just as well, though, because we have a political toady AG who wouldn’t be interested in persuing some specific lines of inquiry anyway. You are not alone. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/julian-assange-remember-him-update/745210/386 "2019-04-11T16:07:15Z")
> [@](#): > > [AP](https://www.apnews.com/328522adb35b4445a3fb875d63fb0870) > > Julian Assange’s lawyer says the WikiLeaks founder will fight his extradition to the United States. > > Attorney Jennifer Robinson sounded defiant as she spoke to reporters after Assange was arrested in London on Thursday morning. She said the arrest sets a dangerous precedent for the rights of journalists. Journalists have the right to publish classified information without any consequences? ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/julian-assange-remember-him-update/745210/387 "2019-04-11T16:12:24Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > Journalists have the right to publish classified information without any consequences? [Yes, they do.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_Times_Co._v._United_States) ---
**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, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/julian-assange-remember-him-update/745210/388 "2019-04-11T16:14:03Z")
The PDF of the US indictment against Assange: [https://www.justice.gov/usao-edva/press-release/file/1153481/download](https://www.justice.gov/usao-edva/press-release/file/1153481/download) It says that Manning gave him the cryptographic hash of a password, which he attempted to crack. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/julian-assange-remember-him-update/745210/389 "2019-04-11T16:19:57Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > The real question is whether he has any dirt on Trump. I’d be a bit surprised if he didn’t. If he does he may be able to finagle a pardon. But that would presumably expect him to, you know, shut up about it. For good (or at least long enough). How likely is that? ---
**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, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/julian-assange-remember-him-update/745210/390 "2019-04-11T16:27:53Z")
Assange’s lawyer, Jennifer Robinson, stated: > [@](#): > > This sets a dangerous precedent for all media organisations and journalists in Europe and elsewhere around the world. This precedent means that any journalist can be extradited for prosecution in the United States for having published truthful information about the United States. This seems to be a deliberate misrepresentation of the situation. Assange is being charged with assisting and conspiring in the hacking of classified information, not merely publishing information that was passed to him. ---
**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, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/julian-assange-remember-him-update/745210/391 "2019-04-11T16:29:01Z")
> [@GreenWyvern](#): > > The PDF of the US indictment against Assange: > > [https://www.justice.gov/usao-edva/press-release/file/1153481/download](https://www.justice.gov/usao-edva/press-release/file/1153481/download) > > It says that Manning gave him the cryptographic hash of a password, which he attempted to crack. Right. So this is not a dangerous precedent for publishers, as some are claiming. It’s about his active participation in illegal hacking. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/julian-assange-remember-him-update/745210/392 "2019-04-11T16:34:28Z")
> [@GreenWyvern](#): > > The PDF of the US indictment against Assange: > > [https://www.justice.gov/usao-edva/press-release/file/1153481/download](https://www.justice.gov/usao-edva/press-release/file/1153481/download) > > It says that Manning gave him the cryptographic hash of a password, which he attempted to crack. I hope Assange further implicates Manning during his trial so that they can charge her some more so that they can put the traitorous bitch back in prison where she belongs. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/julian-assange-remember-him-update/745210/393 "2019-04-11T17:30:04Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > 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. Of course not. Have you been paying attention at all? He was avoiding extradition for some very serious shit in two different countries. ---
**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, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/julian-assange-remember-him-update/745210/394 "2019-04-11T17:40:39Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > I hope Assange further implicates Manning during his trial so that they can charge her some more so that they can put the traitorous bitch back in prison where she belongs. Your rabid hysterical patriotism is duly noted. ---
**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 12, 2019, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/julian-assange-remember-him-update/745210/395 "2019-04-12T02:19:46Z")
Now the [real reason](https://www.theguardian.com/media/2019/apr/11/julian-assange-ecuador-president-lenin-moreno-evict-from-embassy) he was expelled from the embassy comes out: > [@](#): > > In a presentation before Ecuador’s parliament on Thursday, the foreign minister, José Valencia, set out the reasons why Assange’s asylum had been withdrawn. > … > He referred also to the guest’s “hygienic” problems including one that was “very unpleasant” and “attributed to a digestive problem”. Oh, no! He kept farting and stinking up the embassy!  :eek: 🏃‍♂️💨 ---
**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 12, 2019, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/julian-assange-remember-him-update/745210/396 "2019-04-12T02:23:53Z")
Remember about a year ago, Ecuador issued him an order to keep his bathroom and quarters clean, to bathe regularly, to see a doctor, to clean up his cat’s poop and other stuff. ---
**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 12, 2019, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/julian-assange-remember-him-update/745210/397 "2019-04-12T02:29:46Z")
I think this was it — October 2018, [Ecuador tells Assange to avoid political activity online – and feed the cat | Julian Assange | The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/media/2018/oct/16/ecuador-embassy-tells-assange-clean-bathroom-feed-the-cat-do-laundry?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other) > [@](#): > > Ecuador has laid out a stringent new set of house rules for Julian Assange, warning the whistleblower to avoid online comments about political issues – and ordering him to clean his bathroom and take better care of his cat, or risk losing his pet. > > … > > The Australian and his guests are explicitly prohibited from using or installing “unauthorised equipment”. > > According to the memo, the embassy “reserved the right to authorise security personnel to seize equipment” or ask the British authorities to enter the embassy and do so. Any attempt to bring such equipment into the embassy would be reported as a “security breach and reported to the competent British authorities.” > > Ecuador’s government suspended Assange’s internet access in March, saying that he had breached “a written commitment made to the government at the end of 2017 not to issue messages that might interfere with other states”. > > … > > The memo implored Assange and his guests to keep the bathroom clean and stated the diplomatic mission would not pay towards his food, laundry or any other costs related to his stay from 1 December 2018 onwards. Assange must also have quarterly medical check-ups that he must pay for too, it stated. > > Any failure to comply with the news house rules “could lead to the termination of the diplomatic asylum granted by the Ecuadorian state,” it added. > > … ---
**Author:** ![SamuelA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@SamuelA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SamuelA)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2019, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/julian-assange-remember-him-update/745210/398 "2019-04-12T02:54:22Z")
To be fair, he _claims in chat to have tried_ to hack the password. He failed. More than likely, the U.S. government can’t actually prove he actually ran a cracking utility against the password file. And he encouraged Manning to commit more crimes. What’s weird about all this is why does the U.S. government get to enforce their laws against people who are not U.S. citizens and who are not on U.S. soil when the crime is committed? And why does the UK government, etc, go along with it? I’m asking this because does this mean if I, say, attempt to hack into a server in North Korea, the U.S. or UK government would extradite me to North Korea to face the charges? What if the case as presented by the North Koreans is weak and it’s not even within the statute of limitations, as in this case against Julian Assange? ---
**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 12, 2019, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/julian-assange-remember-him-update/745210/399 "2019-04-12T03:08:21Z")
Why is it weird? The internet now gives you the ability to attempt an attack on a country without having to step on its soil. The U.S. would like to be able to prosecute a person for attacking a U.S. target from the U.K. Similarly the U.K. would like to be able to prosecute a person attacking a U.K. target fromthe U.S. It’s not weird at all that the U.S. and U.K. governments might come to an agreement to help each other do that. Furthermore, what does it benefit the U.K. or the U.S. to serve as a platform and a haven for individuals who are attacking allies’ digital infrastructure? And furthermore, the principle of comity between states with diplomatic relations suggests that it is good for the relationship to assist the other country in enforcing its criminal laws so long as it doesn’t violate some policy principle, such as opposition to the death penalty. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2019, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/julian-assange-remember-him-update/745210/400 "2019-04-12T03:16:54Z")
On the statute of limitations issue, we don’t know when the US government may have obtained the indictment against Assange. My understanding is that the prosecutor can get an indictment from the grand jury but have it sealed by the Court until the party is arrested. With respect to the territorial issue, if a Canadian citizen just north of the Canadian border shoots and kills a US Customs officer standing on the US side of the border, that is a crime committed in both nations and the Canadian could be extradited to the US. You don’t have to be physically in the US to commit a crime in the US. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/julian-assange-remember-him-update/745210.md?page=19) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/julian-assange-remember-him-update/745210.md?page=21)