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.
Former Louisiana mayor gets jail time for sex with son’s teen friend at house party
Cardi B’s reaction to Karmelo Anthony verdict draws millions of views and fierce criticism
Black Actor Shoots Down Having a ‘Woke’ James Bond: ‘That’s Not What They Like’
US Blocks Somali World Cup Referee from Entering the Country, and There’s Nothing FIFA Can Do About It
California’s 6th Congressional District primary result: Kevin Kiley will face Democrat Richard Pan
US Navy Sailor Admits to Killing Fellow Sailor in Barracks
Sen Tom Cotton urges DOJ to probe Chinese bid to ‘kneecap’ American AI
Bill Gates faces House investigators over Jeffrey Epstein ties
Ron DeSantis Calls Out Fellow Republicans for an AI Blunder That Left the Door Wide Open for Democrats
Europe’s $116B fighter jet ‘failure’ raises fresh doubts about ability to defend itself without US
ActBlue chief heads to Capitol Hill hot seat as donor fraud probe intensifies
Judicial turf war ignites over DOJ investigations into transgender drugs and surgeries for children
Top takeaways from the primary elections in Maine and South Carolina: ‘Movement about us’
Judge blocks Alabama’s nitrogen gas execution method, rules it is unconstitutionally cruel
Trump-endorsed candidate will face top GOP target in Nevada House district
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.
