Staff Reports
Former President Trump hinted that he might pardon Julian Assange, the founder of Wikileaks, if he were to win a second term. Speaking on a podcast before his speech at the Libertarian convention, Trump said that the decision was under “very serious consideration,” without confirming his intentions. Assange has been fighting extradition to the U.S. since 2019, facing charges under the Espionage Act for releasing classified documents and alleged collaboration with hackers.
Donald Trump suggested he would pardon Julian Assange, the activist behind WikiLeaks. https://t.co/akctOPmGrA
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) May 28, 2024
President Biden has also suggested the possibility of ending the U.S. case against Assange, acknowledging consideration of a request from the Australian government, as Assange is an Australian citizen. During his speech, Trump pledged to exercise his clemency powers by pardoning Jan. 6 Capitol rioters as one of his first acts if elected for a second term. Additionally, he promised to commute the life sentence of Ross Ulbrich, creator of the darknet market website Silk Road, who is currently serving time for running the illicit online marketplace.
Ulbrich’s website facilitated illegal transactions, leading law enforcement to describe it as a “sophisticated and extensive criminal marketplace” with over 100,000 users engaging in illegal activities. Trump’s statements indicate his willingness to consider pardoning individuals involved in controversial cases, potentially generating debate among his supporters and opponents.
