Bipartisan Resolution Calls U.S. to Stop Prosecution of Julian Assange

Representative Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) introduced a House Resolution requesting the United States “drop all charges against and attempts to extradite” Julian Assange last week. The resolution in support of Assange was co-sponsored by bipartisan group of House Representatives that included six Republicans and two Democrats — Representatives James McGovern (D-Mass.) and Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.).

Assange is an Australian citizen who founded WikiLeaks in 2006, and published information critical of the U.S. government in 2010.

Assange is currently imprisoned at HM Prison Belmarsh in southeast London, where he is fighting extradition to the United States. The resolution expressed that “regular journalistic activities” are protected by the First Amendment, and the unprecedented espionage act charges against Assange set a precedent allowing the United States to prosecute journalists who obtain and publish information critical of governments.