RFK Jr. Pledges To Pardon Assange, Revealing Bipartisan Hypocrisy
Presidential candidate RFK Jr. promised in a tweet he posted last Tuesday to deliver a long-overdue presidential pardon to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange if elected. He stated, “Instead of championing free speech, the U.S. actively persecutes journalists and whistleblowers. I’ll pardon brave truth-tellers like Julian Assange and investigate the corruption and crimes they exposed. This isn’t the Soviet Union. The America I love doesn’t imprison dissidents.”
This pledge highlights the glaring hypocrisy in both major political parties. Both Democrats and Republicans have shown a passion for prosecuting journalists who expose their schemes, with Assange being the prime example. For years, he has endured indefinite detention in a British prison at the behest of U.S. authorities, all for exposing government lies and corruption.
While the Democrats claim to protect democracy, they turn a blind eye to Assange’s mistreatment. Instead, they avoid discussing the issue entirely, as seen in a recent “media freedom” event where protesters were forcibly removed by security for advocating Assange’s release.
Assange’s ongoing legal battle seriously affects press freedom and investigative journalism. He faces 18 charges under the Espionage Act and could be sentenced to up to 175 years in prison if extradited to the U.S. The information he published, provided by whistleblower Chelsea Manning, included 250,000 U.S. diplomatic cables and military reports on operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. These documents exposed cases of torture, abduction, and disappearances.
Despite his undeniable contributions to journalism, both parties have prioritized their self-interest over the truth. Some see Trump’s refusal to pardon Assange as being influenced by advisors like Jared Kushner, who prioritized donor networks and their own political ambitions over the fight for press freedom and the rights of whistleblowers.
RFK Jr.’s bold promise to pardon Assange and investigate the corruption he exposed sets him apart from the two-party duopoly. His stance highlights the need for an unafraid leader to challenge the status quo and prioritize the greater good over political gamesmanship.
As the 2024 election approaches, voters must consider which candidate is willing to stand up for free speech and transparency. Among Democrats increasingly frustrated with the Biden administration, RFK Jr.’s pledge to pardon Assange demonstrates his commitment to these values, setting him apart from the establishment politicians who have ignored or actively persecuted journalists and whistleblowers.
