Wikileaks cables: US looks to prosecute Julian Assange

[Joanne98]

Attorney general signs off raft of steps to help stem flow of leaked embassy cables as pressure mounts on site founder.

International pressure on Julian Assange intensified tonight, as the US attorney general disclosed that he had authorised "significant" actions aimed at prosecuting the WikiLeaks founder over the release of thousands of diplomatic cables.

Eric Holder, who did not specify what these actions might be, also said his justice department was examining ways to stem the flow of leaked cables.

His comments came as a Swiss bank announced it had closed Assange's account because he had given "false information". Earlier the US-based commerce business PayPal also froze the WikiLeaks account. Assange has $61,000 (£38,000) in PayPal and $37,000 in the Swiss account, sources said.

The US attorney general, speaking at a press conference in Washington, said: "The lives of people who work for the American people have been put at risk. The American people themselves have been put at risk by these actions that I believe are arrogant, misguided and ultimately not helpful in any way. We are doing everything that we can."

Asked if he might mount a prosecution under the Espionage Act, Holder said: "That is certainly something that might play a role, but there are other statutes, other tools at our disposal." Holder added that he had given the go-ahead for a number of unspecified actions as part of a criminal investigation into WikiLeaks. "I personally authorised a number of things last week and that's an indication of the seriousness with which we take this matter and the highest level of involvement at the department of justice," he said.

He refused to say whether the Obama administration would try to shut down WikiLeaks. "I don't want to get into what our capabilities are," Holder said. "We are looking at all the things we can do to try to stem the flow of this information."

The Obama administration is facing criticism, mainly from conservatives, over what they claim is an inadequate response to WikiLeaks.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/dec/06/wikileaks-cables-founder-julian-assange

[Bucky]

1. Has Assange ever been in America?

Since the crime took place in Iceland I don't quit see our authority over him.

[avaistheone1]

5. My understanding is that the documents were given to him.

Assange didn't steal them. He is no more guilty than Daniel Ellsberg.

[leftstreet]

6. It's probably all extra-judicial-licious

or something

[Catherina]

7. We're Amurika, the whole world is ours. Anyone, anytime, anywhere.

[avaistheone1]

2. Prosecuting Bush, Cheney, Yoo still off the table though.

:grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr:

[City Lights]

10. It's infuriating!

:argh: :grr: :mad: :banghead:

[Catherina]

3. What kind of things did you authorize Eric?

You spent your time in DC defending the Bush Administration's wrongs.

Your shit is exposed and confirmed now.

[DearAbby]

4. take out an insurance policy...

it may be worth your while.

[Violet_Crumble]

8. Obama better keep those conservatives happy...

The Obama administration is facing criticism, mainly from conservatives, over what they claim is an inadequate response to WikiLeaks.

Nothing other than a quick rendition, a public flogging while tea-baggers screech 'terrorist' at him, and a quick assassination are going to keep them happy!

[girl gone mad]

9. The lives of people who work for the American people have been put at more risk..

by our own government, including Holder, than by anything Assange has done.