1. United States
2. Conn.
3. Letter

The prosecution of Julian Assange under the Espionage Act sets a dangerous precedent that threatens the First Amendment rights of journalists to obtain and publish information in the public interest. The charges against Assange stem from WikiLeak publication of leaked documents that exposed human rights abuses, civilian casualties, and unethical practices by the US government and military contractors. This information served the public good by promoting transparency and holding those in power accountable. Allowing the prosecution of Assange for engaging in routine journalistic practices would open the door for the government to criminalize the work of journalists and publishers who report on classified information, even when that information exposes corruption. This would have a chilling effect on the free press and undermine the crucial role it plays in our democracy. Furthermore, the potential sentence of 175 years in prison for Assange is effectively a death sentence, which is an excessive and disproportionate punishment for the alleged offenses. Such harsh treatment of a publisher sets a disturbing precedent that could be used to silence dissent and suppress information that the government deems inconvenient or exposing. For these reasons, I urge you to vote in favor of House Resolution 934, which calls for dropping all charges against Julian Assange and allowing him to return to his homeland of Australia. Defending Assange's right to publish is essential for safeguarding the First Amendment and ensuring that the press can continue to expose wrongdoing and corruption in the government.