Assange, who faces possible extradition to the United States on espionage charges, has his final court appearances in the United Kingdom on Tuesday and Wednesday.
There is no provision for a 'public interest' defense in the act, which means writers or anyone who publishes material deemed illegal cannot defend themselves with the argument that the information they hold is of value to the public.
The bipartisan group emphasized journalists' duty to report on government activities and warns that Assange's prosecution could stifle freedom of the press.
Prominent intellectuals, journalists, authors, and whistleblowers signed the anti-censorship ‘Westminster Declaration’ in support of free speech last month, warning that ‘regimes that eroded free speech have always inevitably weakened and damaged other core democratic structures.’
Tucker Carlson announced on X, formerly Twitter, that he visited Julian Assange at the Belmarsh maximum security prison in London Thursday morning. Details about the meeting are not readily known.
WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange, held in a London prison since 2019, now has 14 days to appeal the Home Secretary's decision before being extradited to the U.S. to face espionage charges.