In light of Julian Assange’s release, a wave of misinformation and propaganda has swept across major media outlets, attempting to justify his prolonged imprisonment and subsequent release without trial. The Biden administration’s decision to release Assange has put pro-Biden media in a bind, forcing them to rationalise his imprisonment while avoiding criticism of Biden.
CNN, a prominent player in this narrative, invited former FBI official Andrew McCabe to discuss the Assange case. McCabe, a figure with a tarnished reputation due to his involvement in the anti-Trump investigation, made several misleading claims about Assange. He asserted that Assange’s actions were criminal because he solicited and published classified information, a practice McCabe claimed is illegal.
This assertion is misleading. Many media outlets, including The Washington Post, The Guardian, and The New York Times, use tools like SecureDrop to encourage sources to leak classified information. If Assange’s indictment is accepted, it sets a dangerous precedent that could criminalise standard journalistic practices.
McCabe also falsely claimed that Assange never contacted the government before publishing sensitive information, a standard journalistic practice to mitigate harm. In reality, Assange did reach out to the US State Department in 2010, offering to discuss which documents might endanger lives if published. The State Department, under Hillary Clinton, refused to engage with Assange.
The narrative that Assange endangered lives is another unfounded claim. Investigations, such as one by McClatchy in 2010, found no evidence that Wikileaks’ publications led to any deaths. This claim is a common tactic used by the government to discredit whistleblowers and leakers, yet no concrete examples have been provided to substantiate it.
Prominent figures like Mike Pence and former CIA analyst Gail Helt have echoed these baseless accusations, further muddying the waters. They argue that Assange is not a real journalist, a dangerous notion that suggests only government-approved journalists deserve protections under the First Amendment. This perspective undermines the essence of press freedom, which is a right available to all citizens, not just those deemed acceptable by the government.
Assange has won numerous journalism awards globally, recognising his significant contributions to public knowledge. His work has exposed government misconduct and corruption, embodying the true spirit of journalism. His imprisonment was not due to a lack of journalistic integrity but because his revelations threatened powerful interests.
In summary, the media’s portrayal of Assange’s case is riddled with inaccuracies and deliberate falsehoods. The claims against him are not only unfounded but also pose a threat to press freedom. Assange’s release should prompt a reevaluation of how we treat whistleblowers and the essential role they play in holding power to account.