Trump Considers Pardoning Assange, Stirring Debate

Former President Donald Trump has publicly stated that he is giving "very serious consideration" to pardoning Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks. This announcement was made during a podcast interview with Timcast IRL, ahead of Trump's speech at the Libertarian convention.

Assange is currently fighting extradition to the United States, where he faces charges under the Espionage Act of 1917. These charges are related to his role in publishing classified military and diplomatic cables, and he is alleged to have conspired with hackers.

Trump's statement on the podcast did not confirm one way or another if he would indeed pardon Assange. Instead, he suggested that the decision was under serious consideration and hinted at further details to be revealed in his upcoming speech.

This news comes at a time when the Biden administration has also floated the idea of ending the U.S. case against Assange, following a request by Australia’s government to pursue the case, as Assange is Australian.

Former President Donald Trump has announced that he is seriously considering pardoning WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange if he returns to office in the November presidential election. This statement has sparked a wide range of reactions, with supporters urging Trump to follow through on his consideration, while critics question his sincerity and past actions. The discussion also highlights broader implications for press freedom and international law, with Amnesty International criticizing the U.S. for its ongoing prosecution of Assange, which they argue threatens media freedom worldwide. 17GEN4.com