I see where you're coming from, but I think there's a big misunderstanding about what Julian Assange is really being accused of. It's super important to remember that a lot of what he did is pretty much what investigative journalists do all the time. Caitlin Johnstone nailed it when she said that Assange is getting heat for the same kind of work that journalists are praised for: helping sources stay anonymous, secure chats, and encouraging more leaks. This isn't "hacking" in the criminal sense; it's basic journalism 101 in today's digital world.

The Obama folks had the same info but decided not to charge Assange because they knew it would be a bad look for press freedom. Fast forward, and the Trump administration decided to go all in, throwing espionage charges at Assange that could lock him away for centuries. All for what? Doing the kind of investigative work that uncovers government secrets and holds them accountable.

Also, let's not forget about the whole deal with Chelsea Manning and the password thing. That attempt didn't even work, and there's no solid proof Assange was the guy behind the keyboard on that one. It feels like they're stretching the story to make the charges stick.

Speaking of stretching, remember President Executive Order 13526, section 1.7? It literally says you can't classify info just to hide government screw-ups or avoid embarrassment. That's a big deal because it means a lot of what Manning leaked (and Assange published) should never have been secret in the first place. We're talking about stuff the public deserves to know, not top-secret national security risks. Manning’s lawyer even argued that the leaked info didn’t contain anything that was still sensitive or would harm ongoing missions. It was all about avoiding a red face for the government.

What's really at stake here isn't just one man's freedom; it's about protecting the right to know what our governments are up to. When they went after Assange with those Espionage Act charges, they weren't just targeting him; they were firing a warning shot at every journalist out there.

Lastly, Assange isn't even a US citizen. He's an Australian, which makes the US's push to prosecute him under the Espionage Act even more concerning. It sets a scary precedent for journalists worldwide – if the US can go after a foreign national like this, what's stopping them from targeting others?

So yeah, I'm with Assange on this. It's not just about him; it's about defending the fundamental right to a free press and our right to know