United States indicts WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange under the Espionage Act
The United States indicted WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange on 17 counts under the Espionage Act over the 2010 publication of leaked military and diplomatic files, charges press-freedom groups said could expose ordinary national-security journalism to prosecution.1234
- Country
- United States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)
- Where
- United States
- Level of government
- National
- Tactic
- Secrets and espionage laws
- Stage
- Punish (see the ladder)
- Head of government at the time
- Donald Trump
- Issue of the day
- WikiLeaks' 2010 publication of leaked United States military reports and diplomatic cables supplied by Chelsea Manning.
- Outcome
- Reversed, June 25, 2024. Assange spent five years in a British prison fighting extradition before a June 2024 plea deal: he pleaded guilty to one count, was sentenced to time served, and was released.
- Era
- The 2010s
What happened
On May 23, 2019, the U.S. Justice Department added 17 counts under the Espionage Act, a 1917 law against disclosing defense information, to an existing charge against Julian Assange, founder of WikiLeaks, a website that publishes leaked documents. The new counts concerned WikiLeaks' 2010 publication of classified military reports and diplomatic cables supplied by U.S. Army analyst Chelsea Manning. Assistant Attorney General John Demers said, "Julian Assange is no journalist," and the department said his actions "risked serious harm to United States national security to the benefit of our adversaries." Assange's attorney, Barry Pollack, said the charges "demonstrate the gravity of the threat the criminal prosecution of Julian Assange poses to all journalists," since the conduct charged, receiving and publishing classified material from a source, is conduct news organizations routinely engage in. Assange was then in British custody after his April 2019 arrest at Ecuador's London embassy; the United States sought his extradition.1234
What reason was given
Assistant Attorney General John Demers said, "Julian Assange is no journalist, this is made plain by the totality of his conduct as alleged in the indictment," and the department said his actions "risked serious harm to United States national security to the benefit of our adversaries."12
What changed for reporting
Assange's attorney and press-freedom groups said charging the receipt and publication of leaked classified material under the Espionage Act, rather than only its unauthorized disclosure, could expose ordinary national-security journalism to prosecution.3
Timeline
2019
Who acted
| Name | Role in this incident | Office at the time |
|---|---|---|
| Donald Trump | other | President of the United States |
| John Demers | ordered | Assistant Attorney General for National Security |
| Julian Assange | other | Founder, WikiLeaks |
Outlets and journalists
| Name | Kind | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| WikiLeaks | outlet | affected |
Sources
- Julian Assange charged with violating Espionage Act in 18-count indictment
- WikiLeaks' Julian Assange to be freed after pleading guilty to US espionage charge
Claims cited
- Assistant Attorney General John Demers said Assange's conduct showed he was not a journalist.
Julian Assange is no journalist, this is made plain by the totality of his conduct as alleged in the indictment.
Julian Assange charged with violating Espionage Act in 18-count indictment, ABC News, 2019-05-23. Claim 238, checked 2026-09-22. - The Justice Department said Assange's actions risked serious harm to United States national security.
Assange's actions risked serious harm to United States national security to the benefit of our adversaries.
Julian Assange charged with violating Espionage Act in 18-count indictment, ABC News, 2019-05-23. Claim 239, checked 2026-09-22. - Assange's attorney said the unprecedented charges threatened all journalists engaged in similar reporting.
These unprecedented charges demonstrate the gravity of the threat the criminal prosecution of Julian Assange poses to all journalists.
Julian Assange charged with violating Espionage Act in 18-count indictment, ABC News, 2019-05-23. Claim 240, checked 2026-09-22. - Assange pleaded guilty to a single count under a 2024 plea agreement that ended the prosecution.
pleading guilty to a single criminal count of conspiring to obtain and disclose classified US national defense documents
WikiLeaks' Julian Assange to be freed after pleading guilty to US espionage charge, Gulf News, 2024-06-25. Claim 241, checked 2026-09-22.