shadowproof--2020-09-21--Trump Jr. Fixer: Everyone In WikiLeaks Deserve The Death Penalty

Trump Jr. Fixer : Everyone In WikiLeaks Deserve The Death Penalty When Richard Grenell , one of President Donald Trump ’ s closest envoys in Europe , was the ambassador to Germany , Grenell reportedly brokered a deal with the Ecuador government for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange ’ s arrest and expulsion from the London embassy .
A wealthy Republican donor named Arthur Schwartz , who handled communications for Grenell while he was ambassador and has close ties with Donald Trump Jr. , was apparently aware of the plans months before they were carried out .
He retaliated against political @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the conservative publication known as the Gateway Pundit , after she informed Assange of the Trump administration ’ s plans .
Schwartz also apparently shared his view that WikiLeaks staff “ deserved the death penalty.
” Assange is accused of 17 counts of violating the Espionage Act and one count of conspiracy to commit a computer crime that , as alleged in the indictment , is written like an Espionage Act offense .
The charges criminalize the act of merely receiving classified information , as well as the publication of state secrets from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ common practices in newsgathering , which is why the case is widely opposed by press freedom organizations throughout the world .
On the tenth day of an extradition trial against Assange , his legal team entered a statement into the record from Fairbanks that was dated June 7 , 2020 , and described communications with Schwartz in which she became aware of the Trump administration ’ s pressure campaign to remove Assange from the embassy .
The prosecution did not object to the truth of the matter asserted—that Trump officials were directly involved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part of a direct message group that contained “ multiple people who either worked for President Trump or were close to him in other ways.
” The group included Grenell and Schwartz .
After Fairbanks shared an interview in October 2018 featuring Christine Assange , Assange ’ s mother .
She hoped someone would be moved to help Assange , but Schwartz called her ten minutes later and was outraged at what she did .
“ I did not agree our conversation was off record , though he did tell me not to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to Fairbanks .
Fairbanks said Schwartz brought up her nine year-old child , which she perceived as an “ intimidation tactic.
” “ [ Schwartz ] repeatedly insisted that I stop advocating for WikiLeaks and Assange , telling me that a ‘ pardon isn ’ t going to fucking happen , ' ” Fairbanks declared .
“ He knew very specific details about a future prosecution against Assange that were later made public and that only those very close to the situation then would have been aware of .
He told me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ case that he would be charged with and that it would not involve the Vault 7 publication or anything to do with the DNC .
He also told me that they would be going after Chelsea Manning.
” As recounted by Fairbanks , Schwartz told her the U.S. government would go into the embassy to snatch Assange .
She maintained entering the “ embassy of a sovereign nation and kidnapping a political refugee would be an act of war , and he responded ‘ not if they let us . '
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the deal Grenell brokered in March 2018 with Ecuador . )
Fairbanks visited Assange in the Ecuador embassy on January 7 , 2019 , and informed him of everything Schwartz told her .
“ I know that he was concerned about being overheard or spied on , and he had a little radio to cover up the conversation.
” “ Assange and I had to take steps to communicate with each other to try to not be within the sight or hearing of surveillance cameras or microphones , by turning up a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Fairbanks noted .
Both Assange and Fairbanks survived an even worse experience on March 25 , 2019 , that Fairbanks reported on thoroughly for Gateway Pundit when it happened .
Here is what she included in her statement about the meeting : …I described the extraordinary circumstances where I was locked in a cold meeting room for an hour while Embassy staff demanded Assange be subjected to a full body scan with a metal detector before allowing him in the room .
I described it at the time as “ eerily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inmates at federal penitentiaries in the U.S. ” I considered at the time “ it seemed our government was getting what they wanted from Ecuador , as a former senior State Department official told Buzzfeed in January .
‘ As far as we ’ re concerned , he ’ s in jail . '
” I noted “ in an interview with El Pais in July , President Moreno said his ‘ ideal solution ’ is that Assange may “ enjoy ” being ‘ extradited ’ if the U.K. promises that the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issue was that Assange wanted to bring a small radio into the conference room to muffle our voices so that microphones undoubtedly surveilling the room would not pick up what we were saying as easily .
Only eight minutes of our two hour scheduled visit were in the end available because of the conflict with security staff at the Embassy .
We were told if we wanted to talk it must be done in the conference room and only two minutes were left .
From Fairbanks ’ report , she heard Assange say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This is how you treat a prisoner , not a political refugee !
” He accused the embassy of targeting him with illegal surveillance .
Fairbanks asked Schwartz on March 29 , a few days later , if it was true that Assange would be removed soon , and Schwartz called to say there was an “ investigation ” into who “ leaked ” information about Assange in October 2018 .
Schwartz did not believe he could trust Fairbanks with information related to WikiLeaks any longer .
He apparently knew what would happen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ embassy but refused to talk about it .
ABC News reported on April 15 , after Assange ’ s arrest , that Grenell was involved in a “ verbal pledge ” to Ecuador that the U.S. government would not pursue the death penalty .
When Fairbanks confronted Schwartz with the ABC News report , he sent several messages about “ how everyone involved with WikiLeaks deserved the death penalty.
” “ I noted in our conversation that it had been reported that Grenell only got a verbal agreement that there would be no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Schwartz ’ s response to this was to send me a shrug emoji and he continued his tirade about how Assange deserved to die , ” according to Fairbanks .
It did not make sense for Grenell , who had nothing to do with the U.K. or Australia , was so involved with what was happening to Assange .
She tweeted the ABC News report , and Grenell was furious .
Fairbanks said her boss at the Gateway Pundit was messaged , and Grenell tried to get her fired .
He demanded the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did .
Schwartz called her too and was “ ranting and raving ” about how he could go to jail .
He claimed she had tweeted “ classified information , ” which made no sense because she shared a news media report .
He eventually indicated Grenell coordinated for Assange ’ s removal on “ orders from the President.
” “ I believed this connected President Trump to those who have been reported as having secured the deal to arrest Assange .
I believed Schwartz ’ s statement to be correct because his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Grenell are well-known , ” Fairbanks concluded .
Just Another Target In Trump ’ s War On Journalism Fairbanks maintains the contents of her meeting with Assange were definitely fed back to U.S. authorities by Ecuador embassy staff .
By that time , Undercover Global , the private security company that targeted Assange on behalf of U.S. intelligence had long been replaced , but that doesn ’ t mean the company was not explicitly sharing intercepted communications with intelligence officials in the Trump administration .
The involvement of Schwartz adds to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the prosecution is a part of the Trump administration ’ s wider war on journalists .
In January 2019 , the Daily Beast reported , Schwartz is known to aggressively attack “ perceived enemies.
” On September 18 , a statement from Assange attorney Jennifer Robinson was entered into the record in which the U.S. government accepted as evidence that former Congressman Dana Rohrabacher offered a pardon if Assange would reveal the source of the DNC leaks and help protect Trump from the investigation by Special Counsel Robert Mueller .
Assange , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not Russia , refused because it would have violated his journalistic principles .
He would not let Trump use him as a political bargaining chip , which may have infuriated officials like Grenell and Schwartz .
As Fairbanks noted in her statements , both of Schwartz ’ s dire predictions came true .
By March 2019 , Manning was subpoenaed to appear before a grand jury empaneled to investigate WikiLeaks .
By April 2019 , Assange was expelled , arrested , and jailed at the Belmarsh maximum security prison .
Grenell left his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but prior to his resignation , he served as acting director for the Office of the Director for National Intelligence ( ODNI ) .
He still holds a position in the Trump administration as the special envoy for Serbia and Kosovo peace negotiations .

When Richard Grenell, one of President Donald Trump’s closest envoys in Europe, was the ambassador to Germany, Grenell reportedly brokered a deal with the Ecuador government for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange’s arrest and expulsion from the London embassy.
A wealthy Republican donor named Arthur Schwartz, who handled communications for Grenell while he was ambassador and has close ties with Donald Trump Jr., was apparently aware of the plans months before they were carried out.
He retaliated against political activist Cassandra Fairbanks, who writes for the conservative publication known as the Gateway Pundit, after she informed Assange of the Trump administration’s plans.
Schwartz also apparently shared his view that WikiLeaks staff “deserved the death penalty.”
Assange is accused of 17 counts of violating the Espionage Act and one count of conspiracy to commit a computer crime that, as alleged in the indictment, is written like an Espionage Act offense.
The charges criminalize the act of merely receiving classified information, as well as the publication of state secrets from the United States government. It targets common practices in newsgathering, which is why the case is widely opposed by press freedom organizations throughout the world.
On the tenth day of an extradition trial against Assange, his legal team entered a statement into the record from Fairbanks that was dated June 7, 2020, and described communications with Schwartz in which she became aware of the Trump administration’s pressure campaign to remove Assange from the embassy.
The prosecution did not object to the truth of the matter asserted—that Trump officials were directly involved in plans against Assange.
‘Pardon Isn’t Going To Fucking Happen’
Fairbanks was part of a direct message group that contained “multiple people who either worked for President Trump or were close to him in other ways.” The group included Grenell and Schwartz.
After Fairbanks shared an interview in October 2018 featuring Christine Assange, Assange’s mother. She hoped someone would be moved to help Assange, but Schwartz called her ten minutes later and was outraged at what she did.
“I did not agree our conversation was off record, though he did tell me not to tell anyone about the call,” according to Fairbanks.
Fairbanks said Schwartz brought up her nine year-old child, which she perceived as an “intimidation tactic.”
“[Schwartz] repeatedly insisted that I stop advocating for WikiLeaks and Assange, telling me that a ‘pardon isn’t going to fucking happen,'” Fairbanks declared. “He knew very specific details about a future prosecution against Assange that were later made public and that only those very close to the situation then would have been aware of. He told me that it would be the ‘Manning’ case that he would be charged with and that it would not involve the Vault 7 publication or anything to do with the DNC. He also told me that they would be going after Chelsea Manning.”
As recounted by Fairbanks, Schwartz told her the U.S. government would go into the embassy to snatch Assange. She maintained entering the “embassy of a sovereign nation and kidnapping a political refugee would be an act of war, and he responded ‘not if they let us.'” (Note: Fairbanks did not know about the deal Grenell brokered in March 2018 with Ecuador.)
‘Eerily Similar’ To Visits To Federal Prisons
Fairbanks visited Assange in the Ecuador embassy on January 7, 2019, and informed him of everything Schwartz told her.
“I know that he was concerned about being overheard or spied on, and he had a little radio to cover up the conversation.”
“Assange and I had to take steps to communicate with each other to try to not be within the sight or hearing of surveillance cameras or microphones, by turning up a background of white noise and writing notes,” Fairbanks noted.
Both Assange and Fairbanks survived an even worse experience on March 25, 2019, that Fairbanks reported on thoroughly for Gateway Pundit when it happened.
Here is what she included in her statement about the meeting:
…I described the extraordinary circumstances where I was locked in a cold meeting room for an hour while Embassy staff demanded Assange be subjected to a full body scan with a metal detector before allowing him in the room. I described it at the time as “eerily similar to visits I have made to inmates at federal penitentiaries in the U.S.” I considered at the time “it seemed our government was getting what they wanted from Ecuador, as a former senior State Department official told Buzzfeed in January. ‘As far as we’re concerned, he’s in jail.'” I noted “in an interview with El Pais in July, President Moreno said his ‘ideal solution’ is that Assange may “enjoy” being ‘extradited’ if the U.K. promises that the U.S. will not kill him. A major issue was that Assange wanted to bring a small radio into the conference room to muffle our voices so that microphones undoubtedly surveilling the room would not pick up what we were saying as easily. Only eight minutes of our two hour scheduled visit were in the end available because of the conflict with security staff at the Embassy. We were told if we wanted to talk it must be done in the conference room and only two minutes were left.
From Fairbanks’ report, she heard Assange say, “Is this a prison? This is how you treat a prisoner, not a political refugee!” He accused the embassy of targeting him with illegal surveillance.
Fairbanks asked Schwartz on March 29, a few days later, if it was true that Assange would be removed soon, and Schwartz called to say there was an “investigation” into who “leaked” information about Assange in October 2018.
Schwartz did not believe he could trust Fairbanks with information related to WikiLeaks any longer. He apparently knew what would happen and why she was mistreated in the embassy but refused to talk about it.
ABC News reported on April 15, after Assange’s arrest, that Grenell was involved in a “verbal pledge” to Ecuador that the U.S. government would not pursue the death penalty.
When Fairbanks confronted Schwartz with the ABC News report, he sent several messages about “how everyone involved with WikiLeaks deserved the death penalty.”
“I noted in our conversation that it had been reported that Grenell only got a verbal agreement that there would be no death penalty, nothing in writing. Schwartz’s response to this was to send me a shrug emoji and he continued his tirade about how Assange deserved to die,” according to Fairbanks.
It did not make sense for Grenell, who had nothing to do with the U.K. or Australia, was so involved with what was happening to Assange. She tweeted the ABC News report, and Grenell was furious.
Fairbanks said her boss at the Gateway Pundit was messaged, and Grenell tried to get her fired. He demanded the tweet be deleted, which she eventually did.
Schwartz called her too and was “ranting and raving” about how he could go to jail. He claimed she had tweeted “classified information,” which made no sense because she shared a news media report. He eventually indicated Grenell coordinated for Assange’s removal on “orders from the President.”
“I believed this connected President Trump to those who have been reported as having secured the deal to arrest Assange. I believed Schwartz’s statement to be correct because his close personal ties to both President Trump and Grenell are well-known,” Fairbanks concluded.
Just Another Target In Trump’s War On Journalism
Fairbanks maintains the contents of her meeting with Assange were definitely fed back to U.S. authorities by Ecuador embassy staff.
By that time, Undercover Global, the private security company that targeted Assange on behalf of U.S. intelligence had long been replaced, but that doesn’t mean the company was not explicitly sharing intercepted communications with intelligence officials in the Trump administration.
The involvement of Schwartz adds to the Assange legal team’s argument that the prosecution is a part of the Trump administration’s wider war on journalists.
In January 2019, the Daily Beast reported, Schwartz is known to aggressively attack “perceived enemies.”
In the nearly two years since he arrived in Washington with a new wave of Trump appointees, mid-level players, and hangers-on, Schwartz has gained a reputation as a fixer, behind-the-scenes operative, and social-media agitator with a particular specialty: shopping information on enemies and doing battle with reporters. That’s helped him forge close relationships with numerous Trumpworld officials and family members like Donald Trump Jr. The two are now so close they spent last year’s Super Bowl together. Schwartz has served as a gatekeeper for many journalists looking to get in touch with the president’s son, and has occasionally served as his bulldog when negative stories are written about him.
On September 18, a statement from Assange attorney Jennifer Robinson was entered into the record in which the U.S. government accepted as evidence that former Congressman Dana Rohrabacher offered a pardon if Assange would reveal the source of the DNC leaks and help protect Trump from the investigation by Special Counsel Robert Mueller.
Assange, who said in November 2016 the source was not Russia, refused because it would have violated his journalistic principles. He would not let Trump use him as a political bargaining chip, which may have infuriated officials like Grenell and Schwartz.
As Fairbanks noted in her statements, both of Schwartz’s dire predictions came true. By March 2019, Manning was subpoenaed to appear before a grand jury empaneled to investigate WikiLeaks. By April 2019, Assange was expelled, arrested, and jailed at the Belmarsh maximum security prison.
Grenell left his position as German ambassador on June 1, but prior to his resignation, he served as acting director for the Office of the Director for National Intelligence (ODNI). He still holds a position in the Trump administration as the special envoy for Serbia and Kosovo peace negotiations.


shadowproof--2020-09-21--A Guide To Journalists And Organizations Covering Assange Trial For Those Upset About Lack Of Media

A Guide To Journalists And Organizations Covering Assange Trial For Those Upset About Lack Of Media Coverage Diagnosing why establishment media institutions are not covering WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange ’ s extradition trial in London has become increasingly widespread among persons known for their political commentary .
Aaron Maté , a journalist with the Grayzone who hosts the “ Pushback ” show , complained , “ U.S .
media outlets across a wide spectrum have spent far more time promoting fantasies about Julian Assange conspiring with Roger Stone , the Trump campaign , and Russia than they have covering the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extradite Assange and criminalize journalism.
” Matt Taibbi , an independent journalist who co-hosts the Rolling Stone ’ s “ Useful Idiots ” podcast , contended , “ The people who cheer Jim Acosta ’ s antics [ for CNN ] but are quiet about this Assange situation and what it means for the media and whistleblowers—this case and in the Snowden case , they ’ re announcing the punishment for disclosing real secrets is life—are frauds.
” When Intercept journalist Glenn Greenwald appeared on “ Useful Idiots , ” he offered his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , saying “ a lot of liberals , ” including the media , have an “ authoritarian strain.
” They believe “ their political adversaries ought to be punished and imprisoned , that anyone who helped Donald Trump is basically a criminal .
And since they see Julian Assange as somebody who helped Donald Trump , it ’ s not just that they ’ re indifferent to his prison .
They actually want it .
They hope he ends up in prison.
” “ Media outlets , including by the way the Intercept @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ ve written about it , and we ’ ve done some opinion pieces or analysis of it .
We ’ re not covering the trial , even though we should be .
Nor are any other large media outlets .
Basically , we ’ re relying on kind of independent bloggers to do it.
” “ I talked to Assange ’ s lawyers , and I got the list of the journalists who had requested credentials to cover the trial , and it ’ s basically like Kevin Gosztola and some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it , and it ’ s really scandalous how the U.S. media has chosen to ignore this , ” Greenwald concluded .
I ’ ll share my appreciation for Greenwald , who mentioned me .
He has supported my work , sharing it with his 1.5 million followers on Twitter .
However , I covered the U.S. Army whistleblower Chelsea Manning ’ s court martial extensively .
Manning ’ s court martial faced a similar lack of media attention ( although with that prosecution the U.S. Justice Department had not yet trained its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ publish information ) .
It was independent and alternative news media , as well as court reporters , who led the way on coverage of Manning , and that leadership continues with the Assange extradition trial .
To help media commentators go beyond conversation about this trial that fixates on the lack of establishment media coverage , here is a guide to independent journalists and grassroots activists who received credentials from the Central Criminal Court to follow proceedings .
These individuals are either inside the Old Bailey Courthouse or outside the building every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trial .
Or they are following the case through a courtroom feed that they were granted remote access to view in order to avoid traveling during the COVID-19 pandemic .
The list is alphabetized and includes Twitter handles to help everyone access reporting on developments that is not being paid much attention in establishment media or even progressive media .
Let ’ s make sure their hard work is more appreciated and well known .
*** Consortium News ( @ ConsortiumNews ) : Journalist Cathy Vogan of Consortium News has had access to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who is editor-in-chief , has followed the proceedings closely .
They publish live updates on their website and on Twitter and live stream after each day of court .
Find their updates here .
James Doleman , Byline Times ( @ jamesdoleman ) : Doleman is a court reporter from London , who is tweeting live updates and publishes to Byline Times , a website which has as its tagline , “ What the Papers Don ’ t Say.
” He is writing the morning and afternoon reports for Bridges For Media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ assisted journalists by providing briefings and witness statements to the media .
Find his postings here .
Mohamed Elmaazi , The Interregnum ( @ MElmaazi ) : Elmaazi , whose work has appeared at the Canary , the Grayzone , and Sputnik , is a London reporter who is live tweeting during court proceedings .
He also is conducting interviews with attendees during breaks and after each day of court .
Find his updates on Twitter .
Bill Goodwin , investigations editor for Computer Weekly ( @ Williamrt ) : The publication is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the United Kingdom .
Goodwin is following a courtroom feed and has written reports for CW and posted live updates to his Twitter .
Find his reports here .
Tareq Haddad , London-based independent reporter ( @ Tareq_Haddad ) : Haddad is based in London and publishes reports to a personal website .
He is following a courtroom feed and sometimes tweets updates .
Find his reports here .
Taylor Hudak , journalist and editor for acTVism Munich ( @ _taylorhudak ) : Hudak is an American journalist who is outside of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attendees and report on the scene .
She conducts interviews with reporters and observers who have courtroom access , like Elmaazi .
Find her reports here .
Charlie Jones , reporter for Court News UK ( @ CourtNewsUK ) : The Court News UK website requires membership to access reports , but Jones ’ live updates from inside the courtroom are available on Twitter .
He frequently emphasizes what Assange is doing in his updates .
Find his updates here .
Mary Kostakidis , Sydney-based journalist ( @ MaryKostakidis ) : Kostakidis is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a former weeknight presenter for SBS World News Australia .
As a longtime journalist , she has access to courtroom feed and tweets live updates .
Find her updates here .
Richard Medhurst , independent journalist ( @ richimedhurst ) : Medhurst is an independent left-wing commentator who has a popular YouTube channel that covers US politics and foreign policy from an anti-imperialist viewpoint .
He is tweeting live updates .
Find his reports here .
Craig Murray , historian and human rights activist ( @ CraigMurrayOrg ) : The former British ambassador @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day , and then writes dispatches at his website , “ Your Man In the Public Gallery.
” His observations on the proceedings are valued among those fighting to free Assange .
Find his reports here .
Juan Passarelli , filmmaker ( @ jlpassarelli ) : Passarelli recently released a 30-minute documentary , “ War on Journalism : The Case of Julian Assange.
” He appeared on “ Useful Idiots , ” hosted by Katie Halper and Matt Taibbi .
He has quite a lot of experience filming people involved with WikiLeaks publications @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feed , interviewing participants outside , and posting updates daily .
Find his updates here .
The following are advocacy organizations engaged in daily court reporting and/or commentary on proceedings : Assange Defense ( @ DefenseAssange ) – The U.S. Committee to Defend Julian Assange and Civil Liberties is a project of the Courage Foundation .
Nathan Fuller , director of the Courage Foundation , is following a courtroom feed and posting live updates , as well as reports .
Find updates here .
DEA Campaign ( @ DEACampaign ) : Led by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ writer with Counterfire , the Don ’ t Extradite Assange campaign is a leading campaign in the U.K. to stop Assange from being brought to the U.S. for trial .
The DEA Campaign posts live updates and Rees is following a courtroom feed .
Find updates here .
Rebecca Vincent ( @ rebecca_vincent ) – Reporters Without Borders is a global press freedom organization that is firm in their opposition to the prosecution against Assange .
Vincent is the director of international campaigns for RSF , and she is consistently providing updates on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ justice are not being upheld for journalists , observers , and the public .
Follow her updates .
And then I ’ ll mention Action 4 Assange ( @ action_4assange ) , which is streaming live in the very early morning in the United States every day of proceedings .
This is a stream for Assange supporters to engage with developments that are coming out of the courtroom , and plug in if they want to engage in activism to support Assange .
*** Of course , as Shadowproof managing editor , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , posting daily video reports , and publishing daily written reports .
Thank you to everyone who continues to support our Assange extradition trial coverage .

Diagnosing why establishment media institutions are not covering WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange’s extradition trial in London has become increasingly widespread among persons known for their political commentary.
Aaron Maté, a journalist with the Grayzone who hosts the “Pushback” show, complained, “U.S. media outlets across a wide spectrum have spent far more time promoting fantasies about Julian Assange conspiring with Roger Stone, the Trump campaign, and Russia than they have covering the Trump administration’s draconian effort to extradite Assange and criminalize journalism.”
Matt Taibbi, an independent journalist who co-hosts the Rolling Stone’s “Useful Idiots” podcast, contended, “The people who cheer Jim Acosta’s antics [for CNN] but are quiet about this Assange situation and what it means for the media and whistleblowers—this case and in the Snowden case, they’re announcing the punishment for disclosing real secrets is life—are frauds.”
When Intercept journalist Glenn Greenwald appeared on “Useful Idiots,” he offered his thoughts on the lack of media coverage, saying “a lot of liberals,” including the media, have an “authoritarian strain.” They believe “their political adversaries ought to be punished and imprisoned, that anyone who helped Donald Trump is basically a criminal. And since they see Julian Assange as somebody who helped Donald Trump, it’s not just that they’re indifferent to his prison. They actually want it. They hope he ends up in prison.”
“Media outlets, including by the way the Intercept, have completely ignored these proceedings. I’ve written about it, and we’ve done some opinion pieces or analysis of it. We’re not covering the trial, even though we should be. Nor are any other large media outlets. Basically, we’re relying on kind of independent bloggers to do it.”
“I talked to Assange’s lawyers, and I got the list of the journalists who had requested credentials to cover the trial, and it’s basically like Kevin Gosztola and some YouTubers and that’s like basically it, and it’s really scandalous how the U.S. media has chosen to ignore this,” Greenwald concluded.
I’ll share my appreciation for Greenwald, who mentioned me. He has supported my work, sharing it with his 1.5 million followers on Twitter. However, I covered the U.S. Army whistleblower Chelsea Manning’s court martial extensively.
Manning’s court martial faced a similar lack of media attention (although with that prosecution the U.S. Justice Department had not yet trained its sights so explicitly on the right to publish information).
It was independent and alternative news media, as well as court reporters, who led the way on coverage of Manning, and that leadership continues with the Assange extradition trial.
To help media commentators go beyond conversation about this trial that fixates on the lack of establishment media coverage, here is a guide to independent journalists and grassroots activists who received credentials from the Central Criminal Court to follow proceedings.
These individuals are either inside the Old Bailey Courthouse or outside the building every day to speak with participants in the trial. Or they are following the case through a courtroom feed that they were granted remote access to view in order to avoid traveling during the COVID-19 pandemic. Primarily, reports are in English.
The list is alphabetized and includes Twitter handles to help everyone access reporting on developments that is not being paid much attention in establishment media or even progressive media.
Let’s make sure their hard work is more appreciated and well known.
***
Consortium News (@ConsortiumNews): Journalist Cathy Vogan of Consortium News has had access to the courtroom feed, and Joe Lauria, who is editor-in-chief, has followed the proceedings closely. They publish live updates on their website and on Twitter and live stream after each day of court. Find their updates here.
James Doleman, Byline Times (@jamesdoleman): Doleman is a court reporter from London, who is tweeting live updates and publishes to Byline Times, a website which has as its tagline, “What the Papers Don’t Say.” He is writing the morning and afternoon reports for Bridges For Media Freedom, an important effort that has assisted journalists by providing briefings and witness statements to the media. Find his postings here.
Mohamed Elmaazi, The Interregnum (@MElmaazi): Elmaazi, whose work has appeared at the Canary, the Grayzone, and Sputnik, is a London reporter who is live tweeting during court proceedings. He also is conducting interviews with attendees during breaks and after each day of court. Find his updates on Twitter.
Bill Goodwin, investigations editor for Computer Weekly (@Williamrt): The publication is a digital magazine for IT professionals in the United Kingdom. Goodwin is following a courtroom feed and has written reports for CW and posted live updates to his Twitter. Find his reports here.
Carolina Graterol, London-based independent reporter (@moncaro): Graterol is a Venezuelan journalist and filmmaker who is providing live updates from court in English as well as Spanish. She is posting to her Twitter account. Find updates here.
Tareq Haddad, London-based independent reporter (@Tareq_Haddad): Haddad is based in London and publishes reports to a personal website. He is following a courtroom feed and sometimes tweets updates. Find his reports here.
Taylor Hudak, journalist and editor for acTVism Munich (@_taylorhudak): Hudak is an American journalist who is outside of the Old Bailey Courthouse every day to interview attendees and report on the scene. She conducts interviews with reporters and observers who have courtroom access, like Elmaazi. Find her reports here.
Charlie Jones, reporter for Court News UK (@CourtNewsUK): The Court News UK website requires membership to access reports, but Jones’ live updates from inside the courtroom are available on Twitter. He frequently emphasizes what Assange is doing in his updates. Find his updates here.
Mary Kostakidis, Sydney-based journalist (@MaryKostakidis): Kostakidis is a former anchor for SBS Television and a former weeknight presenter for SBS World News Australia. As a longtime journalist, she has access to courtroom feed and tweets live updates. Find her updates here.
Richard Medhurst, independent journalist (@richimedhurst): Medhurst is an independent left-wing commentator who has a popular YouTube channel that covers US politics and foreign policy from an anti-imperialist viewpoint. He is tweeting live updates. Find his reports here.
Craig Murray, historian and human rights activist (@CraigMurrayOrg): The former British ambassador attends proceedings at the Old Bailey every day, and then writes dispatches at his website, “Your Man In the Public Gallery.” His observations on the proceedings are valued among those fighting to free Assange. Find his reports here.
Juan Passarelli, filmmaker (@jlpassarelli): Passarelli recently released a 30-minute documentary, “War on Journalism: The Case of Julian Assange.” He appeared on “Useful Idiots,” hosted by Katie Halper and Matt Taibbi. He has quite a lot of experience filming people involved with WikiLeaks publications, and he is following a courtroom feed, interviewing participants outside, and posting updates daily. Find his updates here.
World Socialist Website (@SEP_Australia): Thomas Scripps of the World Socialist Website regularly covered hearings in the case. Posts can be found here.
The following are advocacy organizations engaged in daily court reporting and/or commentary on proceedings:
Assange Defense (@DefenseAssange) – The U.S. Committee to Defend Julian Assange and Civil Liberties is a project of the Courage Foundation. Nathan Fuller, director of the Courage Foundation, is following a courtroom feed and posting live updates, as well as reports. Find updates here.
DEA Campaign (@DEACampaign): Led by John Rees, a British activist and writer with Counterfire, the Don’t Extradite Assange campaign is a leading campaign in the U.K. to stop Assange from being brought to the U.S. for trial. The DEA Campaign posts live updates and Rees is following a courtroom feed. Find updates here.
Rebecca Vincent (@rebecca_vincent) – Reporters Without Borders is a global press freedom organization that is firm in their opposition to the prosecution against Assange. Vincent is the director of international campaigns for RSF, and she is consistently providing updates on the ways in which principles of open justice are not being upheld for journalists, observers, and the public. Follow her updates.
And then I’ll mention Action 4 Assange (@action_4assange), which is streaming live in the very early morning in the United States every day of proceedings. This is a stream for Assange supporters to engage with developments that are coming out of the courtroom, and plug in if they want to engage in activism to support Assange.
***
Of course, as Shadowproof managing editor, I am posting live updates at @kgosztola, posting daily video reports, and publishing daily written reports.
Thank you to everyone who continues to support our Assange extradition trial coverage.


shadowproof--2020-09-22--US Prosecution Accuses Assange Of Exaggerating Symptoms Of Depression

US Prosecution Accuses Assange Of Exaggerating Symptoms Of Depression During the extradition trial for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange , James Lewis , the lead prosecutor , strongly suggested Assange reads the British Medical Journal to help him exaggerate his psychiatric symptoms .
He speculated that Assange consulted his attorneys on how to effectively deceive doctors .
Lewis also repeatedly pressured a forensic psychiatrist , who took the witness stand in the Old Bailey Courthouse , to alter his diagnosis of Assange to match the prosecution ’ s view of Assange ’ s health .
Assange is accused of 17 counts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ count of conspiracy to commit a computer crime that , as alleged in the indictment , is written like an Espionage Act offense .
The charges criminalize the act of merely receiving classified information , as well as the publication of state secrets from the United States government .
It targets common practices in newsgathering , which is why the case is widely opposed by press freedom organizations throughout the world .
Professor Michael Kopelman first met with Assange on May 30 , 2019 , and has visited with Assange numerous times during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He offered testimony on Assange ’ s clinical depression and the risk of suicide if Assange is extradited to the United States .
Kopelman told Lewis Assange reads the British Medical Journal “ because he ’ s very preoccupied by his state of health.
” He is a “ little bit hypochondriacal.
” On April 12 , 2019 , a day after he was arrested and expelled from the Ecuador embassy in London , Assange wished to consult his legal team before seeing a psychiatrist .
The prosecution cast this as something @ @ @ @ @ @ @ typical for Assange to speak with his attorneys before doing anything .
Lewis dissected Kopelman ’ s summaries of days in April and May 2019 , when psychiatrists assessed Assange ’ s mental health condition .
He referenced source material to argue Kopelman left out details that were not suitable to the defense .
But as Kopelman noted multiple times , he did not meet with Assange in person until the end of May .
After Lewis read him one of several summaries from May 3 , 2019 , he stated Kopelman might @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the days .
Kopelman maintained his “ considered opinion ” was well-founded .
Lewis quoted from the court transcript of previous days in the extradition trial , and he contended Assange ’ s engagement indicated he does not really suffer from moderate or severe depression , as Kopelman diagnosed .
Kopelman disagreed .
“ I can not evaluate his mental and cognitive state from what ’ s in here , ” he said , referring to transcripts .
“ He ’ s made a few comments.
” He has “ some long-standing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” But that does not mean his “ cognitive state is normal.
” The lead prosecutor questioned the times Assange “ self-reported ” hallucinations .
To which , Kopelman said the “ nature of psychiatry is one relies on self-reporting , ” and , “ There is no MRI scanner that will show you a hallucination.
” “ I don ’ t believe he ’ s got delusions , ” Kopelman added .
“ He ’ s very worried about whether discussions are recorded.
” He believes computers should be switched off .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ embassy , that was rational anxiety.
” Around the one-year anniversary of Assange ’ s arrest , Stella Morris revealed to the press that she was Assange ’ s partner , and they had two children while he was living in the embassy .
The extradition trial was scheduled for May before it was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic .
Kopelman prepared two reports that included quotes from a visit with Morris , and Lewis brashly objected to the psychiatrist ’ s decision to withhold personal information about Morris ’ relationship with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Kopelman , he discussed the matter with Assange ’ s legal team and decided they would only mention Assange had a partner but not identify the person .
By the second report , it was publicly known she was his partner .
“ This was not in the public domain at that point , and she was very concerned about privacy so we decided not to put it in , ” Kopelman said .
However , “ Soon as it became in the public domain , I included it.
” Lewis scolded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the court that overrode not “ embarrassing ” Assange .
It did not matter if he wanted to be sensitive to Morris ’ privacy and keep it “ confidential.
” In Lewis ’ view , it was crucially important for Judge Vanessa Baraitser to know about Morris and his children because it could be a key “ protective factor against suicide.
” ( Kopelman noted married people commit suicide too , and there may not be much difference at all .
It ’ s a myth . )
Assange ’ s depressive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and then it became moderately severe in February and March of this year , according to Kopelman .
But the lockdown at Belmarsh during the pandemic led to a regression for several months .
He is apparently reluctant to “ volunteer ” statements to prison medical staff about his health .
He drafted farewell letters to family and friends , drawn up a will , and even engaged in confession with a Catholic priest , which Kopelman documented as signs of potential suicide risk .
Assange was held in isolating confinement conditions at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ argued the “ isolation he would experience in North America would be far worse than anything experienced in the embassy or Belmarsh.
” “ If extradition became imminent , ” it would be the “ trigger to a suicide attempt , ” Kopelman declared .
Assange was greatly concerned about Chelsea Manning , the source of documents published by WikiLeaks , which are the focus of this case .
Manning was held at Alexandria Detention Center when she resisted a grand jury subpoena and attempted suicide right before she was released .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ held in pretrial confinement .
“ It just shows how awful conditions must be , ” Kopelman added .
Kopelman mentioned Assange had increased symptoms of depression while in the Ecuador embassy , especially beginning in 2015 .
That was about three years after he was granted political asylum .
In May 2019 , United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture Nils Melzer expressed “ grave concerns ” about the treatment of Assange by the governments of Ecuador , Sweden , the United Kingdom , and the United States .
He found their “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ torture.
” “ From a strictly physical point of view , several aspects of Mr. Assange ’ s health condition and cognitive and sensory capacity have been , and still are , significantly impaired as a direct consequence of his long-term confinement in the Ecuadorian Embassy , without access to natural sunlight and adequate medical and dental care , ” Melzer wrote .
Melzer contended , “ From a psychological perspective , Mr. Assange showed all symptoms typical for prolonged and sustained exposure to severe psychological stress , anxiety and related mental and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to major depressive and post-traumatic stress disorders ( PTSD ) .
” “ Both medical experts accompanying my visit agreed that Mr. Assange is in urgent need of treatment by a psychiatrist of his own choice and confidence , whom he does not associate with the detaining authorities , and that his current condition is likely to deteriorate dramatically , with severe and long-term psychological and social sequels , ” if extradited by the U.S. government for a trial .
Lewis attacked Melzer ’ s work on the Assange case as “ palpable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or accurate.
” He pushed Kopelman to distance himself from Melzer ’ s conclusions , even though it was not an “ important factor ” in his conclusions .
Finally , it became exceptionally petty , even for the U.S. government , as Lewis asked if his depression “ prevented Mr. Assange ’ s solicitation or leaking of material from the U.S. government.
” Lewis pressed Kopelman on whether it was severe enough to affect his public speaking or coordination with media outlets nearly a decade ago .
His mental health did not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ show ” for Russia Today , he added .
All of the above occurred way before Kopelman diagnosed Assange ’ s depressive state and determined the risk of suicide he would face if extradited to the United States .

During the extradition trial for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, James Lewis, the lead prosecutor, strongly suggested Assange reads the British Medical Journal to help him exaggerate his psychiatric symptoms. He speculated that Assange consulted his attorneys on how to effectively deceive doctors.
Lewis also repeatedly pressured a forensic psychiatrist, who took the witness stand in the Old Bailey Courthouse, to alter his diagnosis of Assange to match the prosecution’s view of Assange’s health.
Assange is accused of 17 counts of violating the Espionage Act and one count of conspiracy to commit a computer crime that, as alleged in the indictment, is written like an Espionage Act offense.
The charges criminalize the act of merely receiving classified information, as well as the publication of state secrets from the United States government. It targets common practices in newsgathering, which is why the case is widely opposed by press freedom organizations throughout the world.
Professor Michael Kopelman first met with Assange on May 30, 2019, and has visited with Assange numerous times during his detention at the Belmarsh high-security prison. He offered testimony on Assange’s clinical depression and the risk of suicide if Assange is extradited to the United States.
Kopelman told Lewis Assange reads the British Medical Journal “because he’s very preoccupied by his state of health.” He is a “little bit hypochondriacal.”
On April 12, 2019, a day after he was arrested and expelled from the Ecuador embassy in London, Assange wished to consult his legal team before seeing a psychiatrist. The prosecution cast this as something nefarious, but Kopelman said it was typical for Assange to speak with his attorneys before doing anything.
Lewis dissected Kopelman’s summaries of days in April and May 2019, when psychiatrists assessed Assange’s mental health condition. He referenced source material to argue Kopelman left out details that were not suitable to the defense. But as Kopelman noted multiple times, he did not meet with Assange in person until the end of May.
After Lewis read him one of several summaries from May 3, 2019, he stated Kopelman might change his opinion after going through each of the days. Kopelman maintained his “considered opinion” was well-founded.
Lewis quoted from the court transcript of previous days in the extradition trial, and he contended Assange’s engagement indicated he does not really suffer from moderate or severe depression, as Kopelman diagnosed.
Kopelman disagreed. “I cannot evaluate his mental and cognitive state from what’s in here,” he said, referring to transcripts. “He’s made a few comments.” He has “some long-standing semantic knowledge” and “replied appropriately.” But that does not mean his “cognitive state is normal.”
The lead prosecutor questioned the times Assange “self-reported” hallucinations. To which, Kopelman said the “nature of psychiatry is one relies on self-reporting,” and, “There is no MRI scanner that will show you a hallucination.”
“I don’t believe he’s got delusions,” Kopelman added. “He’s very worried about whether discussions are recorded.” He believes computers should be switched off. “In light of experiences in the embassy, that was rational anxiety.”
Around the one-year anniversary of Assange’s arrest, Stella Morris revealed to the press that she was Assange’s partner, and they had two children while he was living in the embassy.
The extradition trial was scheduled for May before it was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kopelman prepared two reports that included quotes from a visit with Morris, and Lewis brashly objected to the psychiatrist’s decision to withhold personal information about Morris’ relationship with Assange from the first report.
According to Kopelman, he discussed the matter with Assange’s legal team and decided they would only mention Assange had a partner but not identify the person. By the second report, it was publicly known she was his partner.
“This was not in the public domain at that point, and she was very concerned about privacy so we decided not to put it in,” Kopelman said. However, “Soon as it became in the public domain, I included it.”
Lewis scolded Kopelman, arguing he had a duty to the court that overrode not “embarrassing” Assange. It did not matter if he wanted to be sensitive to Morris’ privacy and keep it “confidential.”
In Lewis’ view, it was crucially important for Judge Vanessa Baraitser to know about Morris and his children because it could be a key “protective factor against suicide.” (Kopelman noted married people commit suicide too, and there may not be much difference at all. It’s a myth.)
Assange’s depressive state was especially severe in December 2019 and then it became moderately severe in February and March of this year, according to Kopelman. But the lockdown at Belmarsh during the pandemic led to a regression for several months.
He is apparently reluctant to “volunteer” statements to prison medical staff about his health. He drafted farewell letters to family and friends, drawn up a will, and even engaged in confession with a Catholic priest, which Kopelman documented as signs of potential suicide risk.
Assange was held in isolating confinement conditions at Belmarsh for a period, but Kopelman argued the “isolation he would experience in North America would be far worse than anything experienced in the embassy or Belmarsh.”
“If extradition became imminent,” it would be the “trigger to a suicide attempt,” Kopelman declared.
Assange was greatly concerned about Chelsea Manning, the source of documents published by WikiLeaks, which are the focus of this case. Manning was held at Alexandria Detention Center when she resisted a grand jury subpoena and attempted suicide right before she was released. This is where Assange is likely to be held in pretrial confinement.
“It just shows how awful conditions must be,” Kopelman added.
Kopelman mentioned Assange had increased symptoms of depression while in the Ecuador embassy, especially beginning in 2015. That was about three years after he was granted political asylum.
In May 2019, United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture Nils Melzer expressed “grave concerns” about the treatment of Assange by the governments of Ecuador, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States. He found their “collective persecution” amounted to “psychological torture.”
“From a strictly physical point of view, several aspects of Mr. Assange’s health condition and cognitive and sensory capacity have been, and still are, significantly impaired as a direct consequence of his long-term confinement in the Ecuadorian Embassy, without access to natural sunlight and adequate medical and dental care,” Melzer wrote.
Melzer contended, “From a psychological perspective, Mr. Assange showed all symptoms typical for prolonged and sustained exposure to severe psychological stress, anxiety and related mental and emotional suffering in an environment highly conducive to major depressive and post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD).”
“Both medical experts accompanying my visit agreed that Mr. Assange is in urgent need of treatment by a psychiatrist of his own choice and confidence, whom he does not associate with the detaining authorities, and that his current condition is likely to deteriorate dramatically, with severe and long-term psychological and social sequels,” if extradited by the U.S. government for a trial.
Lewis attacked Melzer’s work on the Assange case as “palpable nonsense” that was “neither balanced or accurate.” He pushed Kopelman to distance himself from Melzer’s conclusions, even though it was not an “important factor” in his conclusions.
Finally, it became exceptionally petty, even for the U.S. government, as Lewis asked if his depression “prevented Mr. Assange’s solicitation or leaking of material from the U.S. government.”
Lewis pressed Kopelman on whether it was severe enough to affect his public speaking or coordination with media outlets nearly a decade ago. His mental health did not prevent him from “doing a chat show” for Russia Today, he added.
All of the above occurred way before Kopelman diagnosed Assange’s depressive state and determined the risk of suicide he would face if extradited to the United States.


shadowproof--2020-09-23--Doctor Diagnosed Julian Assange With Asperger’s Syndrome

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange was diagnosed with Asperger ’ s syndrome , a form of autism , while detained in the Belmarsh high-security prison in London .
This likely increases Assange ’ s risk of suicide if confined in restrictive prison conditions in the United States , according to a psychiatrist who testified at his extradition trial .
Dr. Quinton Deeley , who works for the National Health Service ( NHS ) , conducted an Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule ( ADOS ) test on Assange and produced a report .
He interviewed Assange for six hours in July .
Assange @ @ @ @ @ @ @ held in isolation in a U.S. prison .
He was afraid of the fresh indictment .
He was also concerned about the fate of Joshua Schulte , who was held in harsh confinement conditions prior to his trial for allegedly disclosing the “ Vault 7 ” materials to WikiLeaks .
( Schulte ’ s case resulted in a mistrial in March . )
The U.S. Justice Department charged Assange with 17 counts of violating the Espionage Act and one count of conspiracy to commit a computer crime that , as alleged in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Act offense .
The charges criminalize the act of merely receiving classified information , as well as the publication of state secrets from the U.S. government .
It targets common practices in newsgathering , which is why the case is widely opposed by press freedom organizations throughout the world .
In the cases of Lauri Love and Gary McKinnon , the U.S. government was blocked from extraditing them because the United Kingdom High Court of Justice ( Love ) and the British Home Secretary ( McKinnon ) recognized their Asperger ’ s syndrome @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that violated human rights .
Love was accused of hacking into systems controlled by the Federal Reserve , U.S. Army , and a number of other government agencies .
McKinnon was accused by the U.S. government of the “ biggest military computer hack of all time.
” Edward Fitzgerald represented Love , and he is part of Assange ’ s legal team , and the arguments against extradition that Fitizgerald put forward in Love ’ s case are nearly identical to the arguments in this case .
Based upon the diagnosis of Asperger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Deeley determined Assange ’ s risk of suicide would be high under the circumstances .
He “ ruminates about prospective circumstances at length , ” and it causes a “ sense of horror.
” “ He would find it an unbearable ordeal , and I think his inability to bear that in the context of [ an ] acute worsening depression would confer high risk of suicide , ” Deeley added .
Assange views his predicament as “ unjust ” and an “ intolerable ordeal , ” according to Deeley .
He believes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of him , ” which “ compounds his sense of its unbearability.
” That greatly increases the suicide risk .
Rates of suicide are higher for someone on the autism spectrum .
A person with Asperger ’ s syndrome obsesses and ruminates on their circumstances , which could result in him trying to end his life .
James Lewis , the lead prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Authority , which represents the U.S. government in this case , went after Deeley and attempted to discredit his diagnosis .
He said Assange has written @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a “ chat show ” for RT .
Plus , no other psychiatrist who saw Assange diagnosed him with Asperger ’ s syndrome .
“ It ’ s possible to both have a diagnosis of Asperger ’ s syndrome and to demonstrate expertise and be authoritative and knowledgeable when talking about certain topics , ” Deeley replied .
The prosecution played clips of a panel discussion at the Frontline Club in London , which occurred in August 2010 .
Assange participated in a Q & A session , and Lewis maintained someone with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ able to handle this setting well .
But Deeley contended this was not unusual for “ high-functioning intelligent people on the autism spectrum.
” The panel was a specified format that fit into his knowledge .
Assange was able to “ monologue ” and play a role that he was familiar with as the editor-in-chief of WikiLeaks .
He highlighted the example of Dr. Temple Grandin , who is well-known for speaking about her autism .
She is able to give compelling talks about her experiences and even joke and hold an audience @ @ @ @ @ @ @ harder for her to engage in face-to-face interactions with attendees .
The clips did not work on Deeley so Lewis lashed out .
“ Are you trying to help this court or advocate a cause ?
” Seena Fazel , a forensic psychiatry professor at Oxford University , took the stand as a prosecution witness .
He did not determine Assange had Asperger ’ s syndrome .
However , Fazel conducted a clinical exam that was more focused on other aspects of Assange ’ s mental health .
He could only say he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ After reading Fazel a list of amenities and programs that would be available to prisoners at ADX Florence , a supermax prison in Colorado , Lewis asked Fazel how that would reduce Assange ’ s risk of suicide .
Fazel said it seemed like there are a “ range of activities ” that the Bureau of Prisons offer to reduce risk , but he would need to see information on “ whether they ’ re implemented in practice ” and the “ quality of the interventions.
” Lewis asked no follow-up question because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. federal prison system , and the answer he provided was more in line with the defense ’ s arguments than the prosecution ’ s case .
As the defense puts it , Assange is “ an extremely vulnerable person with a long history of clinical depression , a diagnosis of Asperger ’ s syndrome , and an established risk of suicide.
” Detention in pretrial or post-trial conditions that amounted to solitary confinement would be the “ height of inhumanity.
” Assange would be less capable of managing his Asperger ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if he was put on suicide watch in segregation—as the High Court acknowledged in Love ’ s case—both the Asperger ’ s syndrome and depression would worsen .
He would not receive anything resembling adequate treatment .
The High Court called attention to the fact that Love would be vulnerable and likely be the target of bullying and intimidation by other prisoners if he was not in segregation .
That would put pressure on prison authorities to segregate Assange for his protection .
“ [ Love ] would have no support network available @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” the High Court declared .
That would apply to Assange , who would be confined several time zones away from his partner Stella Morris , two children , and family and friends who have attended his extradition trial .
When it came to McKinnon , May examined the “ legal question ” of whether his Asperger ’ s syndrome was “ sufficient ” to prevent extradition .
She concluded that “ Mr McKinnon ’ s extradition would give rise to such a high risk of him ending his life that a decision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McKinnon ’ s human rights.
” It is certainly possible for Judge Vanessa Baraitser to downplay the diagnosis by Deeley and authorize extradition .
But there are two very clear precedents in U.K. history that should heavily influence the outcome and discourage her from sending Assange to a facility where he will suffer further abuse .

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome, a form of autism, while detained in the Belmarsh high-security prison in London. This likely increases Assange’s risk of suicide if confined in restrictive prison conditions in the United States, according to a psychiatrist who testified at his extradition trial.
Dr. Quinton Deeley, who works for the National Health Service (NHS), conducted an Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) test on Assange and produced a report. He interviewed Assange for six hours in July.
Assange told Deeley he feared he would be held in isolation in a U.S. prison. He was afraid of the fresh indictment. He was also concerned about the fate of Joshua Schulte, who was held in harsh confinement conditions prior to his trial for allegedly disclosing the “Vault 7” materials to WikiLeaks. (Schulte’s case resulted in a mistrial in March.)
The U.S. Justice Department charged Assange with 17 counts of violating the Espionage Act and one count of conspiracy to commit a computer crime that, as alleged in the indictment, is written like an Espionage Act offense.
The charges criminalize the act of merely receiving classified information, as well as the publication of state secrets from the U.S. government. It targets common practices in newsgathering, which is why the case is widely opposed by press freedom organizations throughout the world.
In the cases of Lauri Love and Gary McKinnon, the U.S. government was blocked from extraditing them because the United Kingdom High Court of Justice (Love) and the British Home Secretary (McKinnon) recognized their Asperger’s syndrome would result in degrading or inhuman treatment that violated human rights.
Love was accused of hacking into systems controlled by the Federal Reserve, U.S. Army, and a number of other government agencies. McKinnon was accused by the U.S. government of the “biggest military computer hack of all time.”
Edward Fitzgerald represented Love, and he is part of Assange’s legal team, and the arguments against extradition that Fitizgerald put forward in Love’s case are nearly identical to the arguments in this case.
Particularly:
(1) The mere fact of extradition and detention in the United States would be likely to lead to a serious deterioration in the mental health of Mr. Love (2) To the extent that suicide was prevented by Mr. Love being placed on suicide watch, the conditions in which he would be held on suicide watch, or in segregation, would lead to a serious and permanent deterioration in his mental health, which was also related to his physical health
Based upon the diagnosis of Asperger’s syndrome, if extradited, Deeley determined Assange’s risk of suicide would be high under the circumstances. He “ruminates about prospective circumstances at length,” and it causes a “sense of horror.”
“He would find it an unbearable ordeal, and I think his inability to bear that in the context of [an] acute worsening depression would confer high risk of suicide,” Deeley added.
Assange views his predicament as “unjust” and an “intolerable ordeal,” according to Deeley. He believes an “example is being made out of him,” which “compounds his sense of its unbearability.” That greatly increases the suicide risk.
Rates of suicide are higher for someone on the autism spectrum. A person with Asperger’s syndrome obsesses and ruminates on their circumstances, which could result in him trying to end his life.
James Lewis, the lead prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Authority, which represents the U.S. government in this case, went after Deeley and attempted to discredit his diagnosis. He said Assange has written books, given speeches, and hosted a “chat show” for RT. Plus, no other psychiatrist who saw Assange diagnosed him with Asperger’s syndrome.
“It’s possible to both have a diagnosis of Asperger’s syndrome and to demonstrate expertise and be authoritative and knowledgeable when talking about certain topics,” Deeley replied.
The prosecution played clips of a panel discussion at the Frontline Club in London, which occurred in August 2010. Assange participated in a Q&A session, and Lewis maintained someone with Asperger’s syndrome would not be able to handle this setting well.
But Deeley contended this was not unusual for “high-functioning intelligent people on the autism spectrum.” The panel was a specified format that fit into his knowledge. Assange was able to “monologue” and play a role that he was familiar with as the editor-in-chief of WikiLeaks.
He highlighted the example of Dr. Temple Grandin, who is well-known for speaking about her autism. She is able to give compelling talks about her experiences and even joke and hold an audience. But after events, it is harder for her to engage in face-to-face interactions with attendees.
The clips did not work on Deeley so Lewis lashed out. “Are you trying to help this court or advocate a cause?”
Seena Fazel, a forensic psychiatry professor at Oxford University, took the stand as a prosecution witness. He did not determine Assange had Asperger’s syndrome.
However, Fazel conducted a clinical exam that was more focused on other aspects of Assange’s mental health. He could only say he found Assange had “autistic-like traits.”
After reading Fazel a list of amenities and programs that would be available to prisoners at ADX Florence, a supermax prison in Colorado, Lewis asked Fazel how that would reduce Assange’s risk of suicide.
Fazel said it seemed like there are a “range of activities” that the Bureau of Prisons offer to reduce risk, but he would need to see information on “whether they’re implemented in practice” and the “quality of the interventions.”
Lewis asked no follow-up question because Fazel is not an expert on the U.S. federal prison system, and the answer he provided was more in line with the defense’s arguments than the prosecution’s case.
As the defense puts it, Assange is “an extremely vulnerable person with a long history of clinical depression, a diagnosis of Asperger’s syndrome, and an established risk of suicide.” Detention in pretrial or post-trial conditions that amounted to solitary confinement would be the “height of inhumanity.”
Assange would be less capable of managing his Asperger’s syndrome in a U.S. prison. And if he was put on suicide watch in segregation—as the High Court acknowledged in Love’s case—both the Asperger’s syndrome and depression would worsen. He would not receive anything resembling adequate treatment.
The High Court called attention to the fact that Love would be vulnerable and likely be the target of bullying and intimidation by other prisoners if he was not in segregation. That would put pressure on prison authorities to segregate Assange for his protection.
“[Love] would have no support network available in prison in the United States,” the High Court declared.
That would apply to Assange, who would be confined several time zones away from his partner Stella Morris, two children, and family and friends who have attended his extradition trial.
When it came to McKinnon, May examined the “legal question” of whether his Asperger’s syndrome was “sufficient” to prevent extradition.
She concluded that “Mr McKinnon’s extradition would give rise to such a high risk of him ending his life that a decision to extradite would be incompatible with Mr McKinnon’s human rights.”
It is certainly possible for Judge Vanessa Baraitser to downplay the diagnosis by Deeley and authorize extradition. But there are two very clear precedents in U.K. history that should heavily influence the outcome and discourage her from sending Assange to a facility where he will suffer further abuse.


shadowproof--2020-09-25--‘Essentially Dead’: Doctor Who Visited Assange In Ecuador Embassy Testifies At Extradition Trial

‘ Essentially Dead ’ : Doctor Who Visited Assange In Ecuador Embassy Testifies At Extradition Trial Dr. Sondra Crosby , who visited WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange at the Belmarsh prison and in the Ecuador embassy in London , testified during his extradition trial .
She is one of the only witnesses to provide statements to the court based on her observations of his mental condition while he was in the embassy .
An American doctor ( who Crosby did not name ) organized an “ academic evaluation of the effects of living in the embassy , ” and in October @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first time .
Crosby also visited Assange twice in Belmarsh in October 2019 and January 2020 .
Based upon his mental and physical health , Crosby said Assange is at “ high risk of completing suicide if he were to be extradited ” to the United States .
She said Assange suffers from osteoporosis .
He would face severe risks to his physical health—in addition to his mental health—if detained or incarcerated in a U.S. facility , given the abysmal state of health care in jails and prisons .
According to Crosby , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of his depression and suicide plans ” when meeting with prison doctors and mental health specialists .
He was worried if he revealed his plans or the “ extent of his suicidal ideations ” that he “ may be put under more surveillance ” or face further isolation .
The U.S. Justice Department charged Assange with 17 counts of violating the Espionage Act and one count of conspiracy to commit a computer crime that , as alleged in the indictment , is written like an Espionage Act offense .
The charges criminalize the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as well as the publication of state secrets from the U.S. government .
It targets common practices in newsgathering , which is why the case is widely opposed by press freedom organizations throughout the world .
Crosby has a clinical practice that focuses on care of asylum seekers and refugees , “ most of whom have experienced torture.
” She has even given presentations in the U.S. and various countries on “ caring for survivors of torture.
” As of March 2019 , she had evaluated nearly 1000 survivors of torture .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ embassy in October 2017 , he certainly described to me symptoms of depression , symptoms of post-traumatic disorder , ” according to Crosby .
But he was capable of conversation and not in a “ horrible state , ” though he had “ physical symptoms that were worrisome.
” She observed his mental state was declining .
Assange described symptoms of depression , sleep disturbance , inability to concentrate , and nightmares .
It reflected a lot of “ psychological distress.
” Assange first “ described his thoughts of suicide ” to Crosby @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spent “ quite a lot of time talking to me about how he had been thinking about all of this deliberately.
” He watched Slobodan Praljak ’ s suicide in a United Nations war crimes tribunal .
In February 2019 , Assange “ markedly deteriorated physically and psychologically.
” “ I was very concerned about a very advanced tooth infection that was causing him excruciating pain , requiring him to take narcotics , ” Crosby recalled .
She wanted him to leave the embassy for dental care , but he was unwilling .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ provided to the court , Assange seemed severely depressed to her .
He talked like he was “ essentially dead.
” He was “ tearful ” and pleaded “ for help.
” He spoke about calling an anonymous suicide hotline known as the Samaritans .
By October 2019 , “ he met all of criteria for major depression , ” Crosby testified .
“ It was profoundly impacting his functioning , and he had thoughts of suicide every day , many times in a day.
” Crosby assessed his physical health and was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of cardiac disease or anxiety , as well as chronic respiratory infections .
Early in the COVID-19 pandemic , Assange ’ s defense team raised the issue of chronic respiratory infections in an attempt to bail him out of jail .
The judge rejected their request .
The prosecution had limited questions for Crosby because the defense did not have her take the stand as an expert witness .
But once again , lead prosecutor James Lewis shared how disgusted he was with U.N. Special Rapporteur on Torture Nils Melzer ’ s report @ @ @ @ @ @ @ endured in the embassy .
“ You rely in your report [ to the court ] on Nils Melzer .
I think you got him involved , ” Lewis said .
Crosby told Lewis after her February 2019 visit she was “ very alarmed ” by Assange ’ s risk of systemic infection & death.
” She was afraid he may overdose from narcotics while trying to deal with a dental infection .
It is unclear why Assange ’ s legal team chose not to have Crosby describe an incident that occurred with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ February 2019 , but it is potentially relevant to evidence on the U.S. intelligence-backed espionage operation that was conducted against Assange .
Crosby left the embassy at one point to pick up some food and returned to the room , where she was meeting with Assange to find her confidential medical notes were taken .
Her notes were “ in a space utilized by embassy surveillance staff , ” and she presumed they were read , a violation of doctor-patient confidentiality .
“ I was questioned by the security staff and was forced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I was and the purpose of my visit ( which had already been established ) , ” Crosby wrote in a March 2019 affidavit .
“ I was asked for a copy of my medical license , which was taken and photocopied ( my passport and phone had been taken earlier ) .
The embassy security guard then told me he had to ‘ make a call ’ before I would be allowed back in the embassy to complete my evaluation.
” Crosby added , “ I was not informed who he was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intimidating.
” Lewis wrapped up his questions for Crosby by rhetorically asking , “ Are you aware that no one ever extradited to the U.S. from the U.K. has committed suicide ?
” It came after testimony from Dr. Nigel Blackwood , who the prosecution commissioned to conduct a psychiatric assessment of Assange that was done by phone in July 2020 .
Blackwood consistently downplayed the impacts of solitary confinement on individuals with depression , whether they were incarcerated in a British or American prison .
And Blackwood promoted the inaccurate assertions by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Alexandria Detention Center , where Assange would be held in pretrial confinement , has no solitary confinement .

Dr. Sondra Crosby, who visited WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange at the Belmarsh prison and in the Ecuador embassy in London, testified during his extradition trial.
She is one of the only witnesses to provide statements to the court based on her observations of his mental condition while he was in the embassy.
An American doctor (who Crosby did not name) organized an “academic evaluation of the effects of living in the embassy,” and in October 2017, she visited Assange for the first time. Crosby also visited Assange twice in Belmarsh in October 2019 and January 2020.Based upon his mental and physical health, Crosby said Assange is at “high risk of completing suicide if he were to be extradited” to the United States.
She said Assange suffers from osteoporosis. He would face severe risks to his physical health—in addition to his mental health—if detained or incarcerated in a U.S. facility, given the abysmal state of health care in jails and prisons.
According to Crosby, Assange has concealed the “full extent of his depression and suicide plans” when meeting with prison doctors and mental health specialists. He was worried if he revealed his plans or the “extent of his suicidal ideations” that he “may be put under more surveillance” or face further isolation.
The U.S. Justice Department charged Assange with 17 counts of violating the Espionage Act and one count of conspiracy to commit a computer crime that, as alleged in the indictment, is written like an Espionage Act offense.
The charges criminalize the act of merely receiving classified information, as well as the publication of state secrets from the U.S. government. It targets common practices in newsgathering, which is why the case is widely opposed by press freedom organizations throughout the world.
Crosby has a clinical practice that focuses on care of asylum seekers and refugees, “most of whom have experienced torture.” She has even given presentations in the U.S. and various countries on “caring for survivors of torture.” As of March 2019, she had evaluated nearly 1000 survivors of torture.
“When I initially saw Assange in the embassy in October 2017, he certainly described to me symptoms of depression, symptoms of post-traumatic disorder,” according to Crosby. But he was capable of conversation and not in a “horrible state,” though he had “physical symptoms that were worrisome.”
She observed his mental state was declining. Assange described symptoms of depression, sleep disturbance, inability to concentrate, and nightmares. It reflected a lot of “psychological distress.”
Assange first “described his thoughts of suicide” to Crosby in 2018. In fact, he spent “quite a lot of time talking to me about how he had been thinking about all of this deliberately.” He watched Slobodan Praljak’s suicide in a United Nations war crimes tribunal.
In February 2019, Assange “markedly deteriorated physically and psychologically.”
“I was very concerned about a very advanced tooth infection that was causing him excruciating pain, requiring him to take narcotics,” Crosby recalled. She wanted him to leave the embassy for dental care, but he was unwilling.
As detailed in her December 2019 report provided to the court, Assange seemed severely depressed to her. He talked like he was “essentially dead.” He was “tearful” and pleaded “for help.” He spoke about calling an anonymous suicide hotline known as the Samaritans.
By October 2019, “he met all of criteria for major depression,” Crosby testified. “It was profoundly impacting his functioning, and he had thoughts of suicide every day, many times in a day.”
Crosby assessed his physical health and was concerned about what she viewed as symptoms of cardiac disease or anxiety, as well as chronic respiratory infections.Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, Assange’s defense team raised the issue of chronic respiratory infections in an attempt to bail him out of jail. The judge rejected their request.
The prosecution had limited questions for Crosby because the defense did not have her take the stand as an expert witness. But once again, lead prosecutor James Lewis shared how disgusted he was with U.N. Special Rapporteur on Torture Nils Melzer’s report on the “psychological torture” Assange endured in the embassy.
“You rely in your report [to the court] on Nils Melzer. I think you got him involved,” Lewis said.
Crosby told Lewis after her February 2019 visit she was “very alarmed” by Assange’s risk of systemic infection & death. She was afraid he may overdose from narcotics while trying to deal with a dental infection.
It is unclear why Assange’s legal team chose not to have Crosby describe an incident that occurred with embassy surveillance staff when she visited in February 2019, but it is potentially relevant to evidence on the U.S. intelligence-backed espionage operation that was conducted against Assange.
Crosby left the embassy at one point to pick up some food and returned to the room, where she was meeting with Assange to find her confidential medical notes were taken. Her notes were “in a space utilized by embassy surveillance staff,” and she presumed they were read, a violation of doctor-patient confidentiality.
“I was questioned by the security staff and was forced to write a statement as to who I was and the purpose of my visit (which had already been established),” Crosby wrote in a March 2019 affidavit. “I was asked for a copy of my medical license, which was taken and photocopied (my passport and phone had been taken earlier). The embassy security guard then told me he had to ‘make a call’ before I would be allowed back in the embassy to complete my evaluation.”
Crosby added, “I was not informed who he was calling or why. The experience was intimidating.”
Lewis wrapped up his questions for Crosby by rhetorically asking, “Are you aware that no one ever extradited to the U.S. from the U.K. has committed suicide?”
It came after testimony from Dr. Nigel Blackwood, who the prosecution commissioned to conduct a psychiatric assessment of Assange that was done by phone in July 2020.
Blackwood consistently downplayed the impacts of solitary confinement on individuals with depression, whether they were incarcerated in a British or American prison.
And Blackwood promoted the inaccurate assertions by Assistant U.S. Attorney Gordon Kromberg that the Alexandria Detention Center, where Assange would be held in pretrial confinement, has no solitary confinement.