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.
Breaking: WH Correspondents’ Dinner Shooter Identified, Appears to Be Kamala Harris Donor on Public Listing
WH Correspondents’ Dinner Cancelled After Shooting Despite Trump Wanting the Show to Go on
Trump rushed from same hotel where Reagan assassination attempt unfolded in 1981
Breaking: Shots Reportedly Fired at WH Correspondents Dinner, Trump and Melania Rushed Out
Trump shares details on ‘very sick person’ who fired shots at White House Correspondents’ Dinner
King Charles to meet Mamdani in New York during US state visit next week
Illegal alien accused of biting 3-year-old girl’s face at Texas park; ICE lodges detainer after arrest: DHS
Trump vows to ‘get to the bottom’ of Fed’s multibillion-dollar building renovation after probe shift
Winery belonging to Ilhan Omar’s husband shut down amid financial spotlight
Broad Wording in Trump Admin’s Psychedelic Push Could Endanger Most Vulnerable Mentally Ill
Pope Backfire: Trump’s Support Among Catholics Went Up After Trump Fired Back at Pope Leo
Ilhan Omar Husband’s Winery Suspiciously Shutters After Investigation Is Launched Into Her Finances
Chicago hospital shooting leaves 2 officers injured, 1 critically; suspect in custody: report
Trump cancels Witkoff, Kushner’s Pakistan trip for Iran talks, says regime is suffering from ‘infighting’
Suspect who fled US arrested in caught-on-camera killing of 15-year-old in NYC park
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.
