WikiLeaks Alleges Instances of Suppression Relating to ‘Podesta Emails’
Julian Assange appeared via video to give an interview to Dutch television program Nieuwsuur earlier this year. (Screen shot via YouTube)
WikiLeaks has once again become the center of political controversy, thanks to its seemingly nonstop release of emails related to the Clinton campaign. But over the weekend, the transparency organization made headlines for a different reason: claims that founder Julian Assange, who has lived in asylum at the Ecuadorean Embassy in London since 2012, was the target of various forms of suppression.
The drama began with a WikiLeaks tweet Sunday:
Julian Assange’s internet link has been intentionally severed by a state party. We have activated the appropriate contingency plans.
— WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) October 17, 2016
Although this claim sparked a frenzy of internet comments, WikiLeaks followed up Monday with more information:
We can confirm Ecuador cut off Assange’s internet access Saturday, 5pm GMT, shortly after publication of Clinton’s Goldman Sachs speechs.
— WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) October 17, 2016
According to The Guardian, “It is not yet known what Ecuador’s motivation was for cutting his Wi-Fi,” but “[a] source in the [Ecuadorean] government told the Press Association: ‘We don’t respond to speculation circulating on Twitter. Ecuador will continue to protect Julian Assange and uphold the political asylum granted to him in 2012.’ ”
Speculation about Assange’s status continued Tuesday, when WikiLeaks presented another claim involving the suppression of Assange:
BREAKING: Multiple US sources tell us John Kerry asked Ecuador to stop Assange from publishing Clinton docs during FARC peace negotiations.
— WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) October 18, 2016
The John Kerry private meeting with Ecuador was made on the sidelines of the negotiations which took place pricipally on Sep 26 in Colombia.
— WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) October 18, 2016
The U.S. State Department quickly refuted the allegations, The Associated Press reports:
“While our concerns about Wikileaks are longstanding, any suggestion that Secretary Kerry or the State Department were involved in shutting down Wikileaks is false,” U.S. State Department spokesman John Kirby said in an email. “Reports that Secretary Kerry had conversations with Ecuadorian officials about this are simply untrue. Period.”
WikiLeaks did not return repeated messages seeking comment. Staff at the embassy declined comment. Guillaume Long, Ecuador’s foreign minister, approached by The Associated Press on the sidelines of a United Nations conference in Quito on Monday, declined to comment when asked about Assange. His office later released a terse statement in response to “the speculation of the last few hours,” reaffirming Assange’s asylum status and saying that “his protection by the Ecuadorean state will continue while the circumstances that led to the granting of asylum remain.”
The statement made no mention of Assange’s internet access.
WikiLeaks’ allegations—that Assange’s internet access was disconnected and that Kerry once played a role in trying to silence Assange—come after a particularly crucial dump of emails related to the Clinton campaign. On Saturday, WikiLeaks published an email containing three full speeches that Clinton was paid to give to a private Goldman Sachs audience. Clinton’s campaign responded to the leak by citing potential Russian involvement, a strategy it has continued to rely upon in the face of thousands of leaked documents. CNN reports:
“There is no getting around it: Donald Trump is cheering on a Russian attempt to influence our election through a crime reminiscent of Watergate but on a more massive scale,” Glen Caplin, a Clinton campaign spokesman, said Saturday. “We’re witnessing another effort to steal private campaign documents in order to influence an election.”
“While denying any connection with a Russian hacking campaign,” The Telegraph adds, “Assange has refused to disclose WikiLeaks’ sources for hacked Democratic Party messages.”
WikiLeaks also took to Twitter to blast mainstream media coverage of its recent allegations, retweeting a CNN segment in which an anchor states that “it’s illegal to possess these stolen documents.”
While living in the Ecuadorean Embassy, Assange has repeatedly appeared via video link to make speeches and utilize the internet as one of his only forms of communication. The most recent batch of Clinton campaign emails has incited further allegations of corruption between the FBI and the State Department.
—Posted by Emma Niles
Related Entries
- October 18, 2016 Jill Stein: Democrats Govern by Fear—That Alone Should Cost Them Your Vote
- October 18, 2016 In a Riff on Donald Trump’s Slogan, Canadians Tells Their Neighbors That America Is Great (Video)
Source: http://www.truthdig.com/eartotheground/item/wikileaks_alleges_instances_suppression_relating_to_podesta_emails_20161018/
Anyone can join.
Anyone can contribute.
Anyone can become informed about their world.
"United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.
Before It’s News® is a community of individuals who report on what’s going on around them, from all around the world. Anyone can join. Anyone can contribute. Anyone can become informed about their world. "United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.
LION'S MANE PRODUCT
Try Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend 60 Capsules
Mushrooms are having a moment. One fabulous fungus in particular, lion’s mane, may help improve memory, depression and anxiety symptoms. They are also an excellent source of nutrients that show promise as a therapy for dementia, and other neurodegenerative diseases. If you’re living with anxiety or depression, you may be curious about all the therapy options out there — including the natural ones.Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend has been formulated to utilize the potency of Lion’s mane but also include the benefits of four other Highly Beneficial Mushrooms. Synergistically, they work together to Build your health through improving cognitive function and immunity regardless of your age. Our Nootropic not only improves your Cognitive Function and Activates your Immune System, but it benefits growth of Essential Gut Flora, further enhancing your Vitality.
Our Formula includes: Lion’s Mane Mushrooms which Increase Brain Power through nerve growth, lessen anxiety, reduce depression, and improve concentration. Its an excellent adaptogen, promotes sleep and improves immunity. Shiitake Mushrooms which Fight cancer cells and infectious disease, boost the immune system, promotes brain function, and serves as a source of B vitamins. Maitake Mushrooms which regulate blood sugar levels of diabetics, reduce hypertension and boosts the immune system. Reishi Mushrooms which Fight inflammation, liver disease, fatigue, tumor growth and cancer. They Improve skin disorders and soothes digestive problems, stomach ulcers and leaky gut syndrome. Chaga Mushrooms which have anti-aging effects, boost immune function, improve stamina and athletic performance, even act as a natural aphrodisiac, fighting diabetes and improving liver function. Try Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend 60 Capsules Today. Be 100% Satisfied or Receive a Full Money Back Guarantee. Order Yours Today by Following This Link.
