A delegation of Australian politicians recently traveled to Washington, D.C. to advocate for the release of Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, who is currently facing prosecution in the U.S. The group, which included politicians from various parties, presented a letter signed by over 60 members of parliament urging the U.S. to drop the charges against Assange. If extradited to the U.S., Assange could face up to 175 years in a maximum-security prison. The delegation expressed optimism that a resolution could be reached, but vowed to continue putting pressure on the U.S. until a conclusion is reached.
Former Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce, who spoke at a press conference, emphasized that the delegation’s goal was not to start a fight, but to present their case and lobby for Assange’s freedom. The group highlighted that Assange’s only “crime” was being a journalist and telling the truth. They argued that his work as a publisher did not put anyone’s life in danger, contrary to claims made by U.S. prosecutors and critics. The delegation also emphasized the importance of mutual respect and trust between the U.S. and Australia, as close allies.
The delegation revealed that they were denied visits with Assange at the Belmarsh Prison in London, where he has been held since his removal from the Ecuadorian Embassy in 2019. They also mentioned that they have been in contact with Assange’s family. The charges against Assange stem from the publication of classified material leaked by Chelsea Manning in 2010, which exposed alleged war crimes committed by the U.S. government.
The Australian politicians raised concerns about the Obama administration’s decision not to indict Assange back in 2010, as it would have required indicting journalists from major news outlets who also published the leaked materials. They found it puzzling that Assange is now the only journalist facing prosecution. They referenced a letter from editors and publishers of major U.S. and European outlets, including The Guardian and The New York Times, calling for the charges against Assange to be dropped. The delegation pointed out that polling in Australia shows that nearly 90% of Australians believe the charges should be dropped.
While meeting with U.S. officials and members of Congress, the delegation aimed to make Australians’ opinions known and ensure that people understand the nature of the charges against Assange. They stated that their visit was part of a larger process to raise awareness and advocate for Assange’s freedom. The delegation expressed gratitude for the receptiveness of U.S. officials and indicated that Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese plans to discuss the case with President Biden during an upcoming visit.
As of now, the U.S. State and Justice Departments have not commented on the matter. However, earlier this year, Rep. Rashida Tlaib led a letter from Congress demanding that the charges against Assange be dropped.
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