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.
Bill and Hillary Clinton Facing Charges Over Dodging Epstein Subpoenas — Again
Preliminary autopsy reveals possible cause of death for missing 4-year-old Alabama boy Johnathan Boley
Federal judge blocks Trump from cutting childcare funds to Democratic states over fraud concerns
California driver allegedly kills 2 more people while out on bail for previous fatal crash
Picking the right fight: Congressional tensions rise in wake of Minnesota ICE-involved shooting
Thomas Paine Set America Afire with ‘Common Sense’ 250 Years Ago: Pamphlet Made Case for Revolutionary War
USDA immediately suspends all federal funding to Minnesota amid fraud investigation
Border Patrol agent hugs protester in heartwarming moment caught on video during Minnesota operation
California projects $3 billion deficit as outside forecasts show bigger shortfall
‘Jeopardy!’ Host Ken Jennings Wants Trump Administration Jailed, Vows to Vote for Candidate Who Will ‘Prosecute’
Trump administration to investigate refugee status of Minnesota residents
Fox News Politics Newsletter: AOC accuses Vance of believing ‘American people should be assassinated’
Hundreds of opposition members still imprisoned as Venezuela plays nice with Trump
Video: Jasmine Crockett’s Brain Breaks as She Claims Dems Were Civil After Charlie Kirk’s Murder – Let’s Go to the Video Tape
Noem praises DHS officers on Law Enforcement Appreciation Day as attacks on federal agents spike nationwide
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.
