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The Verge: Julian Assange says he'll turn himself in if Obama pardons Chelsea Manning

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Kthulhu

Member
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange would turn himself in to US authorities if President Barack Obama grants clemency to Chelsea Manning, the organization said on Twitter Thursday. WikiLeaks' statement was released one day before a Swedish appeals court decided to maintain a warrant for Assange's arrest over a 2010 rape charge. Assange has said that extradition to Sweden would lead to his eventual extradition to the US, where he could face charges related to WikiLeaks' publication of secret government documents.

"If Obama grants Manning clemency, Assange will agree to US prison in exchange -- despite its clear unlawfulness," WikiLeaks said in a tweet on Thursday. The tweet included a link to a letter from Assange's attorney, Barry Pollack, calling on the Justice Department to be more transparent about its investigation into WikiLeaks.

Source: http://www.theverge.com/2016/9/16/12939232/julian-assange-wikileaks-chelsea-manning-obama

Extradite me if old.
 

Blader

Member
He's probably going to be extradited anyway. Ecuador seems tired of his shit lately.

The fact that he's angling for something in exchange seems to me like a hint that the walls are about to come crashing in.

Hah, neatly phrased too: "if Obama grants Manning clemency". If Clinton does it, it won't count.

Not that either of them would do it, but it'd be easier for a lame-duck Obama to pardon Manning than a first-term Hillary.
 

ahoyhoy

Unconfirmed Member
He shouldn't do it- she deserves humane treatment and a trial but that isn't the same thing as a pardon.

Good call. Chelsea Manning's actions represent a poor, reckless attempt at whistle blowing. Her treatment at the hands of the military at present shouldn't outright earn her a pardon.

Also Assange is way too narcissistic to actually honor this promise. He only did it because he knows it won't happen.
 

Kite

Member
US Soldier gives a whole bunch of classified info to a foreign national.. lolol good luck with that pardon. There would be way more sympathy if she had given specific info on wrongdoing to a US senator, congressman or maybe a newspaper. But dumping everything, and with the connection to Russia.. yeah no. Rot in prison.
 

Oregano

Member
Well officially the US isn't looking to imprison Assange. It's Sweden that wants him.

If Obama took thar deal wouldn't it be a tacit admission that Assange's conspiracy theory was true.

There's literally no benefit for the US with this deal.
 

Mudcrab

Member
No US politician would ever dream of pardoning Manning. Best one could hope for is that she gets the humane treatment she deserves.
 
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