4528

You can’t use anything Trump says today to figure out what he’s going to do or say in the future. He doesn’t consider himself bound to anything that comes out of his mouth ever, and often contradicts himself in adjacent sentences.

4529

I mean, you are correct down to nanometer on this, but it seems to me that Assange is gonna be the patsy for whatever Barr unredacts.

4530

Well he hasn’t been extradited yet. Steady on.

4531

This is true. Unfortunately I have no faith that the UK will protect him from extradition.

4532

The UK is entirely at the US beck and call as regards all aspects of policy. And with the Tories in charge, they would happily sell Assange’s organs to the highest bidder if anyone wanted them.

4533

I think we’re gonna have to wait and see what kind of case is presented.

Providing information to the public is not illegal (unless doing so is in violation of a specific law due to your prior oaths, like if someone with clearance then violates the rules of that clearance, like Manning did), and should be protected by the first amendment.

But working with people to commit crimes, and then publishing the result of those crimes? That’s not protected by the first amendment. If that’s what Assange did, then he’s gonna go to jail, and he should.

4534

It’s greatly complicated by the fact that he is a non-U.S. citizen who was not in the U.S. when the alleged crimes were committed. Also, how are they going to prove it? Unless they have records of the communication I think it’s very difficult.

4535

Eh, this doesn’t really matter. I mean, if someone in another country conspires to violate laws in the US, they’re still in violation of those laws. The normal complication is just catching them and having them brought to the US to face trial.

Well that’s why you have a trial… but yes, I think that’s exactly the kind of evidence that they would provide.

4536

“Assange may be an asshole. Scratch that, Assange is an asshole. But we’re going to have to stand up for him anyway.”

4537

Again, if all he did was publish information… then you can defend him.

If he worked with Russian agents to commit a crime and steal information? Then no, I am not obligated to defend him.

4538

Fuck Assange.

Also I’m pretty sure he has a thread someplace.

4539

Having read up a bit more on this, it is a political offence in the sense of extradition law, so legally there are strong grounds not to extradite.

4540

He is charged with helping Chelsea Manning, so presumably they will rely on her testimony.

4541

I believe they have records of the communication (apologies for potato quality):
assange01

Taken from here:

4542

That transcript is pretty damning, if Frank is in fact Assange.

4543

Can you please take this Brexit discussion to some other thread?`This one is for discussing Assange, Wikileaks, Trump, and US domestic politics.

But more seriously, is May really this deluded or is it just playing to an audience?

I think there is actually more agreement in relation to a customs union than is often given credit for when different language is used.

We’ve been very clear that we want to obtain the benefits of a customs union - no tariffs, no rules of origin checks and no quotas - while being able to operate our own independent trade policy.

Yes, I’m sure you’d want all the fucking benefits with none of the responsibilities. Given that you’ve been so clear on that, it’s surprising that the negotiations didn’t work out. But if you manage to get Labor to agree to this, why, then the EU must fold.

4544

We’re going to take the extension very seriously, and repeat all the same arguments again for the next six months. Maybe we’ll have another meaningful vote. Maybe we’ll vote on a deal the EU haven’t agreed. We haven’t decided yet.

4545

Revoke article 50.and call an election ffs.

4546

Not going to happen in that order. The Tories would get annihilated from both sides.

4547

good.