Rachel Maddow has aired a segment condemning the new indictment against Julian Assange for 17 alleged violations of the Espionage Act. Yes, that Rachel Maddow.
MSNBCs top host began the segment after it was introduced by Chris Hayes, agreeing with her colleague that its surprising that more news outlets arent giving this story more wall to wall coverage, given its immense significance. She recapped Assanges various legal struggles up until this point, then accurately described Assanges new Espionage Act charges for publishing secret documents.
And these new charges are not about stealing classified information or outsmarting computer systems in order to illegally obtain classified information, Maddow said. Its not about that. These new charges are trying to prosecute Assange for publishing that stolen, secret material which was obtained by somebody else. And that is a whole different kettle of fish then what he was initially charged with.