Australian Lawmakers Lobby US Officials to Drop Charges Against WikiLeaks Founder Julian Assange

An Australian delegation comprising lawmakers from various political parties visited Washington, D.C. this week to lobby the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) in an attempt to halt the extradition and potential imprisonment of Julian Assange. The WikiLeaks publisher, who is also an Australian national, currently remains in a British prison and faces a possible 175-year sentence if extradited to the U.S.
The group of lawmakers, representing the Labor, Liberal, Greens, and National parties, held meetings with U.S. officials on Wednesday to advocate for the cessation of Assange’s extradition to the U.S. Australian House of Representatives member Tony Zappia expressed satisfaction with the discussions, emphasizing that they enabled the Australian representatives to clearly convey their position that the pursuit, detention, and charges against Assange should be dropped.
Assange’s charges in the U.S. stem from his publication of diplomatic cables and classified military documents on WikiLeaks. U.S. prosecutors argue that these editorial decisions endangered sources and allies, leading them to charge Assange with 17 counts under the Espionage Act and one count of computer misuse.
Australian Greens Senator David Shoebridge dismissed the charges against Assange, asserting that he is essentially being penalized for performing his journalistic duties. Shoebridge stated that the crime Assange is being accused of is the crime of being a journalist, highlighting the concerns shared by many politicians and members of the Australian public regarding the treatment of an Australian citizen by a close ally such as the U.S.
Lauding the united effort of his colleagues, Liberal Party Senator for South Australia Alex Antic expressed the desire to ensure Assange’s return to Australia at the earliest opportunity. Antic emphasized the significance of the joint letter signed by 67 members of the Australian Parliament, which reflects the growing support in favor of Assange’s cause. The press conference was attended by a dozen supporters of Assange, who displayed signs and wore shirts advocating for the freedom of the WikiLeaks founder.
Gabriel Shipton, Assange’s brother, addressed the media after the conference, acknowledging that the charges against Assange have strained the Australian-U.S. relationship. Given the current global political scenario, Shipton speculated that the U.S. State Department would prefer to resolve this issue, resolving the wedge it has created in the bilateral relationship. Shipton conveyed the emotional toll the ongoing extradition proceedings in the U.K. are taking on Assange but assured that family visits and phone calls help him stay resilient.
Assange has been detained in London’s Belmarsh prison since 2019 after being evicted from the Ecuadorian embassy. His extended stay in the embassy, where he sought political asylum, was prompted by a Swedish extradition request related to sex crime allegations made by two former WikiLeaks volunteers. While Sweden dropped the investigation in 2017, Assange remained in the embassy out of concern over potential U.S. prosecution.
The lawmakers’ visit to Washington, D.C. and the significance of their advocacy demonstrate the growing support across party lines in the Australian Parliament for Assange’s cause. As the extradition proceedings progress in the U.K., the global spotlight remains on the fate of the controversial publisher, with many questioning the implications of his case for freedom of the press and the nature of journalistic activities in an increasingly interconnected world.