Ellsberg Says Assange, as a Journalist, Can’t Be Tried Under Espionage Act

In an interview with Consortium News Editor-in-Chief Joe Lauria, Pentagon Papers 

whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg says the Espionage Act, under which he was indicted,

 cannot apply to Julian Assange because he is a journalist. 

Speaking during an online vigil for Assange organized by Unity4J.com, Ellsberg told 

Lauria that the motive for U.S. leaders to protect their secrets and go after Assange 

has nothing to do with their mantra of “national security.” 

“The purpose is not to protect national security, but to protect the asses of the people

 who wrote the directives” of classified material, most of which should never have been

 classified, Ellsberg said. 

Ellsberg, 87, said that as a publisher and journalist, the Espionage Act cannot be applied 

to Assange, as it should not have been applied to Ellsberg for non-spying activities

 when he released the Pentagon Papers revealing that the U.S. government long knew 

it was losing the Vietnam War but continued lying to the American public. 

“Julian is not a whistle blower per se, but a facilitator of whistleblowing,” Ellsberg said, “

…the point being that as a journalist, he can not fairly be tried under the Espionage Act.”

As one who only received classified material and published it, “It is essential that Julian

 Assange not be indicted, be convicted, or be extradited to the United States,” Ellsberg said. 

You can watch the entire 38 minute and 17 second interview here:

Tags: Daniel Ellsberg Joe Lauria Julian Assange WikiLeaks