• Maggoty@lemmy.world
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    4 months ago

    The thing is Assange’s charges were very much in the grey area. Him running around the world and going straight Russian mouthpiece covered any discussion of intent. As did his handling of the actual documents.

    Intent clearly still plays a part. Because NYT, Guardian, and Der Speigel all published documents from Chelsea Manning as well. And yet only the guy who was working with the Russians got charged with espionage.

    In fact there’s been several modern cases of leaking to the press, and the press have yet to be charged. Even when they refuse to name their source under subpoena. The fact is they are protected by first amendment protections. Assange breached those protections by clearly working for hostile foreign actors.

    • FlexibleToast@lemmy.world
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      4 months ago

      Intent can play a part in the attorneys discretion to bring forth the case. But the espionage act does not require intent.

      • Maggoty@lemmy.world
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        4 months ago

        Right so you clearly didn’t read a damn thing. You’re just going to stick to that in the face of all evidence to the contrary.