It's either a full-throated defense, or he's a bumbling moron. It is alleged that Assange was in contact with Manning well-before any data breach occurred, making Assange part of the conspiracy.
No one alleges that the New York Times engineered the release of the classified materials they came to be in possession of - either during the Pentagon Papers fiasco, or the the Swiss banking/intelligence scandal more recently. Paul's either too stupid to understand that distinction, or he doesn't care. Take your pick.
That's what you let the NYTs skate on? No comment on the other traitors?