[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 934 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 934

   Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that regular 
 journalistic activities are protected under the First Amendment, and 
 that the United States ought to drop all charges against and attempts 
                      to extradite Julian Assange.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           December 13, 2023

    Mr. Gosar (for himself, Mr. McGovern, Mr. Massie, Ms. Greene of 
 Georgia, Mrs. Luna, Mr. Burlison, Mr. Duncan, and Ms. Omar) submitted 
 the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the 
                               Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
   Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that regular 
 journalistic activities are protected under the First Amendment, and 
 that the United States ought to drop all charges against and attempts 
                      to extradite Julian Assange.

Whereas regular journalistic activities, including the obtainment and 
        publication of information, are protected under the First Amendment to 
        the Constitution of the United States;
Whereas, in 2010, WikiLeaks, a media organization established by Julian Assange, 
        published a cache of hundreds of thousands of pieces of information 
        including Guantanamo Bay detainee assessment briefs, State Department 
        cables, rules of engagement files, and other United States military 
        reports;
Whereas the disclosure of this information promoted public transparency through 
        the exposure of the hiring of child prostitutes by Defense Department 
        contractors, friendly fire incidents, human rights abuses, civilian 
        killings, and United States use of psychological warfare;
Whereas, in 2018, Mr. Assange was charged with one count under the Computer 
        Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA) for alleged conspiracy to help a United 
        States Army intelligence analyst access Defense Department computers 
        without authorization;
Whereas the charge under the CFAA was despite the fact that said intelligence 
        analyst already had access to the mentioned computer, that the purported 
        breaching of the Defense Department computers was impossible, and that 
        there was no proof Mr. Assange had any contact with said intelligence 
        analyst;
Whereas, in 2019, Mr. Assange was charged with an additional 17 counts under the 
        Espionage Act for alleged obtainment and disclosure of classified 
        national defense information;
Whereas no other publisher had ever been prosecuted under the Espionage Act 
        prior to these 17 charges;
Whereas Mr. Assange could face up to 175 years behind bars, effectively a death 
        sentence, for these charges;
Whereas, in 2019, Mr. Assange was arrested by the London Metropolitan Police for 
        an outstanding warrant and is currently being held at HM Prison Belmarsh 
        while he battles the United States request that the United Kingdom 
        extradite him;
Whereas the successful prosecution of Mr. Assange under the Espionage Act would 
        set a precedent allowing the United States to prosecute and imprison 
        journalists for First Amendment protected activities, including the 
        obtainment and publication of information, something that occurs on a 
        regular basis;
Whereas First Amendment freedom of the press is essential to promote public 
        transparency and is a crucial safeguard for our Republic;
Whereas numerous human rights, press freedom, and privacy rights advocates and 
        organizations have disclosed their sincere and steadfast support for Mr. 
        Assange; and
Whereas at least 70 Senators and Members of Parliament from Australia, a 
        critical United States ally and Mr. Assange's native country, support 
        actions that would allow Mr. Assange to return home: Now, therefore be 
        it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives 
that--
            (1) regular journalistic activities, including the 
        obtainment and publication of information are protected under 
        the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States;
            (2) First Amendment freedom of the press promotes public 
        transparency and is crucial for the American Republic;
            (3) the Federal Government ought to drop all charges 
        against and attempts to extradite Julian Assange; and
            (4) the Federal Government allow Julian Assange to return 
        home to his native Australia if he so desires.
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