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Julian Assange pardon push going nowhere one year later

By Steven Nelson
Published August 19, 2018 4:00am ET
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Julian Assange pardon push going nowhere one year later
Julian Assange, founder of WikiLeaks, speaks to media and supporters from a balcony at the Ecuadorian embassy in London, U.K., on on Friday, May 19, 2017. Assange hailed a Swedish decision to drop a rape probe against him, but said he won't leave the Ecuadorian embassy in London where he has sought refuge for the past five years as long as he remains a target in the U.S. and U.K. | (Luke MacGregor/Bloomberg)

A congressman who doubts that Russia hacked Democratic emails during the 2016 election has been unable to speak with President Trump after a full year attempting to broker a pardon for WikiLeaks editor Julian Assange in exchange for information disproving Russian culpability.

It’s unclear why the White House has kept Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-Calif., at an arm’s length, and whether the decision is an example of restraint by Trump or interference by deputies fearing reputational or legal hazards.

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Tag:

2016 Elections Donald Trump Julian Assange Mike Pompeo Rand Paul Robert Mueller Russia WikiLeaks