{"id":7492,"date":"2019-04-11T23:08:18","date_gmt":"2019-04-11T23:08:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.theblackvault.com\/documentarchive\/?p=7492"},"modified":"2020-06-09T15:14:06","modified_gmt":"2020-06-09T15:14:06","slug":"julian-assange-indictment-wikileaks-founder-charged-in-computer-hacking-conspiracy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.theblackvault.com\/documentarchive\/julian-assange-indictment-wikileaks-founder-charged-in-computer-hacking-conspiracy\/","title":{"rendered":"Julian Assange Indictment – WikiLeaks Founder Charged in Computer Hacking Conspiracy"},"content":{"rendered":"

Background<\/h3>\n
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Julian P. Assange, 47, the founder of WikiLeaks, was arrested today in the United Kingdom pursuant to the U.S.\/UK Extradition Treaty, in connection with a federal charge of conspiracy to commit computer intrusion for agreeing to break a password to a classified U.S. government computer.<\/p>\n

According to court documents unsealed today, the charge relates to Assange\u2019s alleged role in one of the largest compromises of classified information in the history of the United States.<\/p>\n

The indictment alleges that in March 2010, Assange engaged in a conspiracy with Chelsea Manning, a former intelligence analyst in the U.S. Army, to assist Manning in cracking a password stored on U.S. Department of Defense computers connected to the Secret Internet Protocol Network (SIPRNet), a U.S. government network used for classified documents and communications. \u00a0Manning, who had access to the computers in connection with her duties as an intelligence analyst, was using the computers to download classified records to transmit to WikiLeaks. \u00a0Cracking the password would have allowed Manning to log on to the computers under a username that did not belong to her. \u00a0Such a deceptive measure would have made it more difficult for investigators to determine the source of the illegal disclosures.<\/p>\n

During the conspiracy, Manning and Assange engaged in real-time discussions regarding Manning\u2019s transmission of classified records to Assange. \u00a0The discussions also reflect Assange actively encouraging Manning to provide more information. \u00a0During an exchange, Manning told Assange that \u201cafter this upload, that\u2019s all I really have got left.\u201d \u00a0To which Assange replied, \u201ccurious eyes never run dry in my experience.\u201d<\/p>\n

Assange is charged with conspiracy to commit computer intrusion and is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. \u00a0He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison if convicted. \u00a0Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. \u00a0A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.<\/p>\n

Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers, U.S. Attorney G. Zachary Terwilliger for the Eastern District of Virginia and Assistant Director in Charge Nancy McNamara of the FBI\u2019s Washington Field Office made the announcement after the charges were unsealed. \u00a0First Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracy Doherty-McCormick, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kellen S. Dwyer, Thomas W. Traxler and Gordon D. Kromberg, and Trial Attorneys Matthew R. Walczewski and Nicholas O. Hunter of the Justice Department\u2019s National Security Division are prosecuting the case.<\/p>\n

The extradition will be handled by the Department of Justice\u2019s Office of International Affairs.<\/p>\n

An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime.\u00a0 Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.<\/p>\n

Document Archive<\/h3>\n

Julian Assange Indictment<\/a> [7 Pages, 0.6MB]<\/p>\n