Craig Murray, Chris Hedges, Mohamed Elmaazi and Consortium News‘ Cathy Vogan and Joe Lauria discussed the first day’s hearing on the Truth Defence channel.
Taylor Hudak, Host, Journalist, AcTVism Munich
Craig Murray, Former British Ambassador, Human Rights Activist & Journalist
Chris Hedges, Pulitzer-winning Journalist
Emmy Butlin, Human Rights Activist, Committee to Defend Julian Assange
Joe Lauria, Editor of Consortium News
Cathy Vogan, Journalist, Consortium News
Fidel Narvaez, Former Consul, Embassy of Ecuador, London
Mohamed Elmazzi, Journalist, Chief Editor of Truth Defence
Production Team: Rikki Blue – Camera Operator Erland Evans – Camera Operator Ethan Tiley – Boom Operator Stacey Sharkey – Runner Shane Muggeridge – Runner Naila Kauser – Assistant Producer
Btw, although Obama refrained from prosecuting Ass*nge, and I understand why we all highlight that fact, I’m not convinced he deserves much credit for that, since there was no need to indict him so long as the Swedes were maintaining their own pursuit of him, which was sufficient to keep him confined and silenced. The indictment came out the minute the Swedes dropped their own efforts, because that’s when a US charge became necessary in order to ensure that Ass*nge remained locked up. Trump happened to be Pres. at that point, but I believe it’s quite possible that Obama would have done the same were he still Pres. Biden’s continuation of the prosecution was therefore no great surprise to me.
On the issue of whether Assange, as a foreign national, has First Amendment rights on US soil,
ACLU:
“In decisions spanning more than a century, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that the Constitution’s guarantees apply to every person within U.S. borders, including “aliens whose presence in this country is unlawful.”
Penn State Law School
“When it comes to key constitutional provisions like due process and equal treatment under the law, the U.S. Constitution applies to all persons – which includes both documented and undocumented immigrants – and not just U.S. citizens.”
Guantanamo detainees were classified as enemy combatants under military law, not as criminal suspects under civil and criminal law.
On the question of whether Assange, as a foreign national, has Constitutional rights on US soil:
“When it comes to key constitutional provisions like due process and equal treatment under the law, the U.S. Constitution applies to all persons – which includes both documented and undocumented immigrants – and not just U.S. citizens.”
hxxps://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwjTsMKa7LyEAxUIkYkEHYSLCecQFnoECBMQAw&url=https%3A%2F%2Fpennstatelaw.psu.edu%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2FAre%2520Immigrants%2520Covered%2520By%2520the%2520US%2520Const%2520PPT%25201-12-2017.pptx%23%3A~%3Atext%3DThe%2520brief%2520answer%2520is%2520%25E2%2580%259CYes%2Cand%2520not%2520just%2520U.S.%2520citizens.&usg=AOvVaw3IWnV22866mG3QWKR3Roy7&opi=89978449
Thank you, Truth Defense, for your excellent panel discussions on these two days of the hearing – really wonderful! I will look for your future programs.
And thank you, @bill wolfe, for your replies above about whether Assange would be eligible for First Amendment protections; that’s obviously a key question, and your replies look helpful. Clearly, however, there are limits to non-citizens’ Constitutional rights – e.g., they can’t vote; and the current interpretation of undocumented immigrants’ “due process” rights, as applied at the southern border, seems to be loose at best – so I’d be interested to know of any case law specifically addressing non-citizens’ First Amendment rights.
Maybe a future program could feature one or more esteemed US Constitutional law experts on the US law aspects of Assange’s case?
Sadly after only hearing the defendant’s strong case Assange’s supporters all are buoyed by the semblance of justice. Happy talk and high hopes, but will the judges stand tall against the CIA and US? (Have they watched as Tara Reade and Gal Luft scurry for their lives, while Alexander Smirnov trusts himself to American Justice, as did John Kiriakou?) Will they overturn the obviously flawed decision of their colleagues?
We watch as Biden’s DOJ indemnifies Genocide Joe against his crimes of corruption, claiming he’s too mentally incompetent to be prosecuted. Julian Assange probably will never recover even if set free, yet US Justice has no compunction against continually torturing and destroying him.
Fascinating to hear analysis from some voices at the heart of this case. Very interesting and informative. FREE JULIAN ASSANGE.