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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Paul Karp Chief political correspondent

US lawmakers urge Biden to pardon Assange to send ‘clear message’ on media freedom

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange was released from prison in June after a deal that brought an end to an extraordinary 14-year legal saga. Photograph: @WikiLeaks/AP

President Joe Biden has been urged to pardon Julian Assange by two US congressmen who warn they are “deeply concerned” the WikiLeaks founder’s guilty plea deal sets a precedent for prosecuting journalists and whistleblowers with espionage offences.

James McGovern, a progressive Democrat from Massachusetts, and Thomas Massie, a libertarian Republican from Kentucky, wrote to the president with the bipartisan request to pardon the Australian publisher earlier in November.

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