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

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

Exclusive: James McGovern and Thomas Massie warn US president they are ‘deeply concerned’ the WikiLeaks founder’s plea deal sets worrying precedent

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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