“We are going to step up our effort and already are stepping up our efforts on all leaks. This is a matter that’s gone beyond anything I’m aware of. We have professionals that have been in the security business of the United States for many years that are shocked by the number of leaks and some of them are quite serious. So yes, it is a priority. We’ve already begun to step up our efforts and whenever a case can be made, we will seek to put some people in jail.” US Attorney General Jeff Sessions

US prosecutors are considering — and perhaps preparing — charges to seek the arrest of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange for revealing sensitive government secrets. In an open letter published by the Washington Post, Assange wrote that the CIA director is waging war on truth-tellers. Noam Chomsky offers a few comments regarding this very controversial move from Trump’s administration. Glenn Greenwald warns journalists that they could be next. Follow us on Twitter: @INTEL_TODAY

The Justice Department investigation of Julian Assange and WikiLeaks dates to at least 2010, when the site first gained wide attention for posting thousands of files stolen by a former US Army intelligence analyst (Chelsea Manning).

During President Barack Obama’s administration, prosecutors have struggled with whether the First Amendment precluded the prosecution of Julian Assange.

In the end, Attorney General Eric Holder and officials at the Justice Department determined it would be difficult to bring charges against Julian Assange because other Newspapers had published documents stolen by Manning.

But now, US prosecutors believe they have found a way to move forward.

CIA Director Mike Pompeo

On April 13 2017, CIA Director Mike Pompeo delivered his first public speech at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. Pompeo denounced WikiLeaks as a “hostile intelligence agency.”

“WikiLeaks walks like a hostile intelligence service and talks like a hostile intelligence service. It has encouraged its followers to find jobs at CIA in order to obtain intelligence. It directed Chelsea Manning in her theft of specific secret information. And it overwhelmingly focuses on the United States, while seeking support from anti-democratic countries and organizations. It is time to call out WikiLeaks for what it really is – a non-state hostile intelligence service often abetted by state actors like Russia.” “They have pretended that America’s First Amendment freedoms shield them from justice. They may have believed that, but they are wrong.” RELATED POST: CIA Director Mike Pompeo delivers first public speech at CSIS RELATED POST: CIA Director Mike Pompeo tells a whopper RELATED POST: CIA Richard Welch’s Assassination — Communiqué by the November 17 Revolutionary Organization

Going after Assange

According to officials familiar with the matter, the U.S. attorney’s office in the Eastern District of Virginia recently added a veteran prosecutor, Assistant U.S. Attorney James Trump, to the case.

James Trump — who is also assigned to the case against Edward Snowden — won a criminal conviction in 2015 against former CIA officer Jeffrey Sterling.

Julian Assange: CIA director is waging war on truth-tellers

In an open letter published by the Washington Post, Assange wrote that the CIA director is waging war on truth-tellers.

“When the director of the CIA, an unelected public servant, publicly demonizes a publisher such as WikiLeaks as a “fraud,” “coward” and “enemy,” it puts all journalists on notice, or should. Pompeo’s next talking point, unsupported by fact, that WikiLeaks is a “non-state hostile intelligence service,” is a dagger aimed at Americans’ constitutional right to receive honest information about their government. This accusation mirrors attempts throughout history by bureaucrats seeking, and failing, to criminalize speech that reveals their own failings.” “Fundamental issues of free speech and freedom of the press, and of the interplay between liberty and security, date to the Republic’s founding. Those who believe in persecution and suppression of the truth to achieve their parochial ends are inevitably forgotten by history. In a fair fight, as John Milton observed, the truth always wins.”

Chomsky: CIA Targeting of Julian Assange and WikiLeaks is “Disgraceful Act”

Last week, the Trump administration reportedly prepared an arrest warrant for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, and Attorney General Jeff Sessions said the Justice Department was seeking to put Assange in jail. Amy Goodman asked world-renowned linguist and dissident Noam Chomsky about the U.S. targeting of Julian Assange, during a wide-ranging conversation at the First Parish Church in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on Monday night.

Why It Is “So Dangerous” For Journalism If Julian Assange Is Arrested!

REFERENCES

Sources: US prepares charges to seek arrest of WikiLeaks’ Julian Assange — CNN April 21 2017

Reports: US prosecutors weighing charges against WikiLeaks — Washington Post April 21 2017

Justice Dept. debating charges against WikiLeaks members in revelations of diplomatic, CIA materials — Washington Post April 21 2017

As US prioritises Julian Assange arrest, UK hints Sweden comes first — Guardian April 21 2017

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Chomsky: CIA Targeting of Julian Assange and WikiLeaks is “Disgraceful Act”