WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is willing to give himself over to the authorities if Chelsea Manning, a former US Army soldier who gave WikiLeaks a large number of classified files, goes free. This is a deal the US government would never accept, even if it would love to prosecute Assange.
Manning is serving a 35 year prison sentence for violations of the Espionage Act. The US has investigated Assange and would like to charge him for espionage due to publishing the leaked documents.
If Obama grants Manning clemency, Assange will agree to US prison in exchange — despite its clear unlawfulness https://t.co/MZU30S3Eia
— WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) September 15, 2016
If Assange were to leave the Ecuadorian embassy in London he would first face charges in Sweden due to a separate matter. Though, it’s possible he would be extradited to the US, which has long been Assange’s primary concern about leaving the safety of the embassy.
