Attorneys for Julian Assange told a London court on Wednesday that they will provide evidence that the Trump administration offered to pardon the WikiLeaks founder if he was willing to say that Russia had nothing to do with leaks of Democratic Party emails, according to Bloomberg.
During the preliminary extradition hearing, Assange’s lawyers said that former GOP congressman Dana Rohrahbacher offered the deal in 2017, one year after WikiLeaks published emails which were damaging to then-presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. At the time, the FBI’s ‘Russiagate’ investigation was in full swing as the agency tried in vein to prove that Trump colluded with Russia to win the 2016 US election.
At a preliminary hearing Wednesday, Assange’s lawyer Edward Fitzgerald asked the court to allow more witness statements during the extradition hearing that will start next week. The new information includes a witness statement by Jen Robinson, another of Assange’s lawyers, that deals with the alleged offer made by then U.S. Representative. Dana Rohrabacher, he told the court.
Mississippi man accused of killing six in shooting spree pleads not guilty
Rep Ro Khanna demands prosecution of ICE agent in Minneapolis fatal shooting
Jack Smith to testify next week at a public House Judiciary Committee hearing
Nonprofit revenue totals surge amid growing scrutiny after major fraud cases
Trump imposes 25% tariff on any country doing business with Iran
‘Disturbance’ at Georgia Prison Leaves 3 Inmates Dead, a Dozen More Injured
Trump rips congestion pricing, calls for immediate end: ‘A disaster for New York’
Minnesota sues Trump admin over sweeping immigration raids in Twin Cities
Data Is In: Homes Becoming More Affordable as Trump Admin Removes Illegal Aliens
Tyler Robinson prosecutors say Charlie Kirk shooting texts show confusion, not bias, to rebut conflict claim
Ex-congressional IT aide accused of stealing 240 government phones and selling them at pawn shop
Senate advances $174B package as Minnesota ICE shooting fuels DHS funding fight
Man Arrested After Attack on School Bus Seriously Injures 8-Year-Old Girl
Jeffries says DHS Secretary Noem ‘should be run out of town’ amid ICE shooting backlash
Iran’s crown prince calls for renewed nationwide protests despite killings: ‘This is a war’
The witness statement will address “Mr. Rohrabacher going to see Mr. Assange, and saying on instructions of the president, offering pardon or some other way out if Mr. Assange played ball and said the Russians had nothing to do with” the leaks, Fitzgerald said. -Bloomberg
Assange spent nearly seven years living in the Ecuadorian embassy in Central London in order to avoid extradition to Sweden, and later the United States.
The White House has denied the claim.
Developing…
Story cited here.
