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In a recent online interview, Pentagon Papers whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg talks about the possibility of Julian Assange being tried in the US under the Espionage Act for publishing classified material.

Joe Lauria, Editor in Chief of Consortium News, spoke to Ellsberg during an ‘online vigil’ for the WikiLeaks founder and editor organized by Unity4J.com.

The online interview series has featured Bill Binney, Jimmy Dore, Kim Dotcom, George Galloway, Chris Hedges, Caitlin Johnstone, Peter Lavelle, Daniel McAdams, Ray McGovern, Cynthia McKinney, Craig Murray, Mark Sleboda and many others.

SEE ALSO: Henningsen: ‘If Wikileaks is not classified as publisher, there’s no protection for any press’

In the interview, Ellsberg lays out his case for why Assange can’t be tried fairly under the Espionage Act. The whistleblower emeritus said because Assange was the publisher of the classified material, not technically the whistleblower, he was in effect a journalist.

“The stakes here are nothing less than freedom of the press,” Ellsberg concluded.

Towards the end of the interview, Lauria also throws a wildcard scenario on the table for how Assange might become a ‘free man’ – stepping out onto the streets of London with the help of Jeremy Corbyn as Prime Minister.

WATCH:



An important conversation as another assault on freedom of the press encroaches.

READ MORE JULIAN ASSANGE NEWS AT: 21st Century Wire Julian Assange Files

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