An attorney for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange accused the Trump administration of extortion in a London court on Monday.
The WikiLeaks attorney appeared at Woolwich Crown Court along with U.S. prosecutors, who argued that Assange should be extradited the United States, where he faces 18 charges and up to 175 years in jail.
Attorneys for Assange previously told the court that former Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) tried to broker a pardon deal between the White House and Assange if he would agree to say that Russia was not the source of hacked Democratic Party emails.
Defense attorney Edwards Fitzgerald said on Monday that Rohrabacher had called the pardon offer a “win-win.”
But when the pardon fell through, the Trump administration tried to extort Assange with a political prosecution, according to the attorney.
Read some of the reports from the courtroom below.
Assange QC notes that Mr Rohrabacher has denied saying he was acting on President Trump’s behalf when offering a pardon in exchange for identifying the source of the 2016 DNC leaks. — Ben Lewis (@benlewismedia) February 24, 2020
Edward Fitzgerald on alleged pardon offer to Assange and President Trumps denial of it “well he would say that wouldn’t he.” — Samantha Hawley (@samanthahawley) February 24, 2020
#Assange court is told US congressman Dana Rohrabacher and Charles Johnson discussed a ‘pre-emptive’ pardon in exchange today ‘personal assistance’ to President Trump in August 2017…. if Assange revealed source of DNC leak/hack. — Hugh Whitfeld (@hughwhitfeld) February 24, 2020
Why is this all important? Assange’s legal team will argue this is a political prosecution, not driven by justice, so extradition should not go ahead. — Ben Lewis (@benlewismedia) February 24, 2020
Assange lawyer expanding on claims US Repub congressman offered Trump pardon in exchange for saying Russia not involved in leaking DNC emails
Dana Rohrabacher said to have described it as “win win” situation.. Assange could get out of Ecuadorian embassy and get on with life” — Ben Quinn (@BenQuinn75) February 24, 2020
calthegeek on February 25th, 2020 at 08:20 UTC »
The thing is Assange can now claim the US case is politically motivated and he won't receive a fair trial because of Trump's influence on the DOJ and potentially not be extradited to the US.
sexmutumbo on February 25th, 2020 at 08:16 UTC »
"WEEEKEEY LEEEKS! I love Wikileaks." - Trump during 2016 campaign
"I don't know anything about Wikileaks" - Trump last year when asked about Wikileaks
This is not sarcasm either. He said both.
Lardzor on February 25th, 2020 at 07:14 UTC »
I'm sure it never occurred to the Trump administration that Julian Assange might make their misconduct public.