Two of the country’s top intelligence officers say the man behind the WikiLeaks organization, Julian Assange, has no credibility and has done damage to the United States.
Speaking at a Senate Armed Services committee hearing Thursday morning, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper and National Security Agency director Michael S. Rogers were both asked about Assange, whose WikiLeaks organization has published critical and classified American intelligence and diplomatic correspondence, by committee chairman John McCain. Assange claims the theft of embarrassing emails from Democratic National Committee officials, which WikiLeaks published earlier this year, was not backed by the Russian government.
“General Clapper, I just have to mention the name, Mr. Assange has popped up,” McCain said. “And I believe he is the one who is responsible for publishing names of individuals that work for us that put their lives in direct danger. Is that correct?
“Yes, he has,” Clapper responded.
“Do you think there’s any credibility we should attach to this individual, given his record of—”
“Not in my view,” Clapper interjected.
“I would second those comments,” Rogers added.
Assange has earned fans among some pro-Trump conservative pundits recently due to his role in exposing the DNC emails, which were embarrassing for Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign. The accuracy of the leaked Democratic emails that drew significant news coverage have not been disputed. But the WikiLeaks founder, an Australian who is currently holed up in the Ecuadoran embassy in London, has a history of publishing misleading information damaging to the United States and its national security.
