The distinction they are trying to make is that they are claiming that Assange conspired with Bradley to steal US government documents. That’s illegal. Publishing information that is stolen, but which you had nothing to do with procuring, is what the Supreme Court ruled was allowed under the 1st Amendment in the Ellsberg case. I disagree with the reasoning of that case, and maybe it could stand to be reviewed by a better court, but even under that case, Assange could be liable.
HOWEVER, it is my understanding from some of the articles I have read that the conspiracy claim against Assange is a stretch, and that the government could well fail in proving that aspect, which would let Assange off the hook.
I hope Trump and Q are on top of the derps who are hot to put the screws to Assange. Maybe they are the ones bringing the charges, in order to get him over here from the UK so we can protect him. Or could be the DS stooges trying to get their hooks into him. We don’t know yet.
Can a non-US citizen be charged with espionage? Sounds like that would be illogical. Julian is not a US citizen. Sorry not a law fag. If this is so freaking obvious, I apologize.
Wasn’t Hillary quoted as saying she wanted Assange dead?
As I implied, that court ruling requires me to believe that a minor govt functionary showed up at the Times unexpectedly and seduced them into putting their reputation on the line by believing he was carrying a fabulous treasure chest. Of course not impossible but seemingly a bit unlikely.
Similarly - and here I am woefully uninformed - I am expected to believe that Manning had access to treasure but was incapable of procuring it and conveying it without the help of Assange... to put it poorly.
But it does lead to your point, if I understand it, that conspiracy is difficult to prove. Just wanting an outcome does not make one a conspirator.
I think you are more 'on point' bringing up the issue of who is manipulating events and whether their desired outcome favors or threatens Manning. BTW, in my youth Manning would not likely have ever received a security clearance - for wise reasons that should now be apparent. (Kim Philby et al}
If Assange IDs Seth Rich as the source of the DNC hack, that blows the Mueller Report out of the water... as IDing Mifsud as FVEY asset would if we could prove it... Mueller calls Mifsud a Russian asset.
Reading the first dozen pages of the Mueller Report was all I needed to see it as a paste up.