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.
Karoline Leavitt reveals ‘anti-climatic’ way Trump told her she’d be press secretary: ‘Oh, by the way’
Trump slaps up to 100% tariff on some brand-name drug imports in major America First push
Two arrested in NC after police find 13-year-old kept in dog kennel, 5 other kids in ‘filthy’ home
Heart-pounding video shows fisherman leaping into ocean to save great white shark
Pete Hegseth signs memo opening door for troops to carry personal firearms on bases
Florida, Mississippi join wave of states tightening voter citizenship rules
Trump Announces Plan to Help DHS Workers in Spite of ‘Radical Left’ Shutdown
Report: The Last Straw That Led to Trump Firing Pam Bondi Had to Do with Eric Swalwell
Gradual erosion of confidence led to Pam Bondi’s abrupt ouster
FBI Warns Congress of ‘Major’ Cyber Hack Involving China That Could Threaten National Security
NASA Launch Shows Americans Are Rejecting Basic Facts, And That Should Concern Everyone
ActBlue’s lawyers said it may have misled Congress on foreign donations: Report
Watch: Dem Lawmakers Mocked When They Kill Women’s Month Bill Just 30 Seconds After Realizing They Don’t Know What a Woman Is
Army chief of staff ordered to retire immediately as Hegseth continues Pentagon shakeup
Watch: Trump Declares that Because of Jesus’ Death and Resurrection, ‘Not One Thing Can Separate Humanity from the Power of God’s Everlasting Love’
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.
