By Dan Murphy
Fox TV news host Tucker Carlson and Actress Pam Anderson have little in common regarding their political views, but both called for the release and pardon of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange.
Carlson made a strong and reasonable case on his show on January 18. “Julian Assange is rotting away in a prison in London. He is wanted for printing information that the American government wanted to keep secret to protest themselves, not us.
“He (Assange) also publicized emails that exposed corruption in the DNC (democratic national committee). Julian Assange did not hack the servers of our government, he reported on those servers, that’s called journalism.”
“He didn’t commit espionage, he’s not a traitor, he isn’t even an American. This case is about criminalizing freedom of speech. We are not defending Julian Assange but defending what is precious to every American-freedom of speech and freedom of expression.
“He reported things they don’t like and they threw him in jail. The president will pardon the rapper Lil Wayne on a firearms charge, but if he wants a lasting historical effect on the principles of this cournty then pardon Julian Assange,” said Carlon.
“The entire world wants, or most want him to pardon Julian Assange,” Anderson told Carlson. “This is his time to shine and really make an impression on the world. If this goes to trial, that’s the end of the First Amendment.”
“This is one of those moments in history, in his lifetime, where he can make the right decision. He would really gain a huge following and a huge sigh of relief and gratefulness from so many people on the planet.”
President Trump did not pardon Julian Assange, nor did he pardon Edward Snowden, who fled the US after leaking secret National Security Agency files in 2013 and was given asylum in Russia. The United States still wants Snowden to be tried here for espionage.
Actor Randy Quaid tweeted, “Mr. President, you said in 2016 that you “loved Wikileaks.” You need to now show that love by pardoning Assange. This man has suffered enough. If you’re being influenced by Mitch McConnell he’s not your friend. Democracy needs transparency to survive.”
Conservative commentator Mike Cernovich was one of many who believed that when McConnell took to the Senate floor to say, “The mob was fed lies. They were provoked by the president and other powerful people,” that is was “Mitch’s shot across the bow, letting Trump know he had better keep his dog collar on and NOT pardon Assange and Snowden,” tweeted Cernovich.
