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Consultant Thomas Massie has invited Gabriel Shipton, brother of jailed writer Julian Assange, to attend the State of the Union deal with as his visitor.
Shipton is a outstanding advocate for his brother's launch.
Assange has been held in Belmarsh jail in London since April 2019 because the US authorities works for his extradition. Earlier than his arrest, he had been dwelling beneath asylum within the Ecuadorian embassy since June 2012.
He’s at present going through costs beneath the Espionage Act for publishing Iraq and Afghan conflict logs. If discovered responsible, Assange faces a most sentence of 175 years in jail.
“The U.S. authorities's ongoing effort to prosecute Julian Assange threatens the First Modification rights of People and should be opposed,” Massey stated in an announcement to The Gateway Pundit.
Massey added, “Throughout his tenure, I requested President Trump to pardon Mr. Assange, and I used to be upset by his failure to take action. President Biden ought to drop the felony costs at present pending towards him by the Justice Division. I’m happy that Mr. Shipton has accepted my invitation to affix me on the State of the Union.”
“I’m honored to be Consultant Massey's visitor on the State of the Union deal with,” Shipton stated.
Shipton additional stated, “The prosecution of Julian Assange is a direct assault on the First Modification and the liberty of the press to publish data within the public curiosity.” “Consultant. Macy's is a staunch defender of those rights, having launched laws that may defend my brother Julian and finish the espionage act that’s being weaponized towards publishers. I hope President Biden can take a recent have a look at the impeachment and see it as a risk to democracy.
Massie's workplace stated they hoped Shipton's look on the State of the Union would draw extra consideration to the bipartisan letter beforehand despatched by Consultant Massie and Consultant Jim McGovern to Biden on Assange's behalf.
The letter calls on President Biden to “stop all prosecution proceedings as quickly as potential” towards Julian Assange.
“Journalists have an obligation to hunt out sources, together with documentary proof, to report back to the general public on authorities actions,” the letter stated. “The USA shouldn’t pursue pointless prosecutions that danger criminalizing regular journalistic practices and thus undermining the work of a free press. We urge you to make sure that this case is concluded in a well timed method.”
The bipartisan letter was additionally signed by Representatives Paul Gosar, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Rashida Tlaib, Ilhan Omar, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Rand Paul.
Biden is scheduled to ship a State of the Union deal with on Thursday, March 7 at 9:00 pm EST.