It comes as no surprise to many that I do not fully trust the U.S. - if at all. Until Assange is on his home soil, he is not free. All of the unfolding events involving this plea deal call for caution. It is too early to properly celebrate. He is not flying home to Australia as many wishfully think, but in fact going to a US territory, where he will likely not be guaranteed a fair trial or clear sign-off of his freedom. And as you bring out Terry, he's pleading to a crime with a maximum 10 year sentence -- which could result in only "some time served" at Belmarsh being erased, yet serving the remaining time (how long?) in another prison (solitary?) somewhere in the world designated (?) and controlled by the US.
So, I'm being cautious.
But I don't deny that it is fabulous news in other respects -- once he is home.
-----Original Message----- From: Northwest Ohio Peace Coalition <peacelist@PROTECTED> Sent: Jun 24, 2024 9:11 PM To: Northwest Ohio Peace Coalition <peacelist@PROTECTED> Subject: [peacelist] Re: Breaking news: Assange agrees to plead guilty in exchange for release, ending standoff with U.S.
It is amazingly easy to cop to a set of facts which a prosecutor and court will agree fulfills the elements of a criminal offense. They'll come up with something.
He's pleading to a crime with a maximum 10 year sentence and it's possible he'll be sentenced to time served in that torturous prison in London, or at least, spend a short sentence somewhere else.
This avoids creating some bad precedents, not the least of which is the current Sup Ct being asked to pronounce whether practicing journalism is a crime under the Espionage Act. We may be about to find out in a few days that Presidents have the rights of kings and cannot be prosecuted, it would be a relief to not create another legal disaster for them to approve.
This deal is grimy and slightly deflating but the US loses big, Assange lives to fight (or retire and recuperate), and the United States doesn't get to create a legal dragnet that imperils every journalist on the planet irrespective of their location.
This is a victory. Not a ticker tape one, but a victory nonetheless.
On Monday, June 24, 2024 at 08:18:26 PM EDT, Eric Resnick <resnickeric@PROTECTED> wrote:
I understand the move from a practical perspective, but how does one plead guilty to that which is not a crime?
Does this set a bad precedent?
From: 'Terry Lodge' via Freedom 2 Boycott in Ohio <free-speech-coalition-of-ohio@PROTECTED> Sent: Monday, June 24, 2024 11:59 PM To: Cleveland Peace Action <clevelandpeaceaction@PROTECTED>; Northwest Ohio Peace Coalition <peacelist@PROTECTED>; Free Speech Coalition <free-speech-coalition-of-ohio@PROTECTED> Subject: Fw: Breaking news: Assange agrees to plead guilty in exchange for release, ending standoff with U.S.
----- Forwarded Message -----
From: The New York Times <nytdirect@PROTECTED>
To: "tjlodge50@PROTECTED" <tjlodge50@PROTECTED>
Sent: Monday, June 24, 2024 at 07:26:53 PM EDT
Subject: Breaking news: Assange agrees to plead guilty in exchange for release, ending standoff with U.S.
Barring last-minute snags, the deal would bring to an end a prolonged battle that began after the WikiLeaks founder became alternately celebrated and reviled for revealing state secrets in the 2010s.
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