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.
Utter Humiliation: Watch Dem Rep Ask 100 People at Black Church to Raise a Hand if They Don’t Have ID – What Happens Next Is Priceless
Jasmine Crockett Attempts to Defend Ketanji Brown Jackson by Playing the Race Card, Accidentally Proves Conservatives’ Point
Pam Bondi already fired as attorney general, Cabinet official teed up as replacement: sources
Schumer, Jeffries sue Trump, accuse him of trying to ‘rig’ mail-in voting
Priceless Video: Hospice Fraudsters in CA Rip Down Sign, Flee in $200k Mercedes When Nick Shirley Pays ‘Friendly’ Visit
Nazi Tattoo-Wearing Democrat Sen. Candidate Previously Talked About Jesus Being a ‘Zombie’ and Mary a ‘Skank’
Expert flags ‘disappointing’ questions from justices in Trump birthright citizenship case
Passengers screamed ‘turn around’ as flames shot from Delta jet engine moments after takeoff
ICE nabs alleged machete-wielding MS-13 gangster wanted for murder: ‘the witch’
Religion of Peace: Man Who Tried to Take Out Synagogue Using Explosive-Packed Truck Was Dearborn-Area Muslim Acting for Hezbollah
Ex-counterterrorism chief says Trump must restrain Israel before he can declare victory in Iran
Former Rep. MTG vents that she’s ‘so beyond done,’ characterizing Trump’s address as ‘WAR WAR WAR’
Earthquake rattles northern California major cities
FLASHBACK: Dem senate candidate was critical vote in confirming judge who tied voter ID to ‘White supremacy’
Once a Kamala Harris donor, this Arkansas Democrat is steering clear of the former vice president
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.
