The True Verdict: prosecute assange

Showing posts with label prosecute assange. Show all posts

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Prosecuting Wikileaks' Assange

Attorney General Eric Holder has stated that the US Department of Justice is conducting an ongoing criminal investigation into Wikileaks founder Julian Assange.

Under the Espionage Act, anyone who has "unauthorized possession to information relating to the national defense" and has reason to believe it could harm the United States may be prosecuted if he publishes it or "willfully" retains it when the government has demanded its return. Make no mistake, the government has demanded the return. Unfortunately, however, prosecuting Assange may mean that more classified information will have to be released in order to prosecute him. After all, how can you show it has harmed the USA without divulging other secrets?

The Editor and Primary Blogger for "The True Verdict" is Peter Romary.

Peter Romary is an attorney, arbitrator, mediator, diplomat, and internationally recognized expert in the areas of risk management, threat assessment and management, conflict resolution, and litigation risk management. He is also an expert in detection of deception and critical interviewing. He has worked and consulted for government and private-sector clients and has lectured to audiences around the world. In 2002, he was recognized by the National Law Journal as one of the “Top 40 Trial Lawyers Under 40 Years Old” in the U.S. He has been honored for his work in 14 states, and has received the highest civilian honors awarded by many of those states. Among his other honors are a knighthood, blessed by Pope John Paul II; the Ellis Island Medal of Honor; the American Police Hall of Fame Honor Award for Distinguished Public Service; and the National Crime Victim’s Bar Association Frank Carrington Champion of Civil Justice Award. In 2010, for his contributions to safety in higher education, Peter received the highest honor bestowed on behalf of the students of the University of North Carolina system: the UNC Association of Student Governments John Sanders Award for Student Advocacy.