Let the court decide.
Many “truth-to-power” liberals are anxious to make a hero of Julian Assange. But what if our hero is indeed a rapist? Can we separate the important U.S. government lack-of-transparency disclosures provided by WikiLeaks from the felonious actions of its founder?
There are two women in Sweden who allege that they were sexually assaulted by Mr. Assange. Today, some liberals are trying hard to establish the fact that these two women are actually the guilty parties, and that Julian Assange is the victim of their (and the right-wing conspirators’) attempt to smear him.
But, what if these women are correct? What if Julian Assange is found guilty of sexual assault?
Normally, liberals recognize the biases that exist in this country when a male celebrity is charged with sexual assault. From the sexual escapades of Kobe Bryant to Bill O’Reilly, we have always felt that it is the insensitive middle-aged male conservatives who tend to side with the male perpetrator (“She” asked for it!). Should we switch our views in regard to Assange, simply because he is a liberal?
Can we say, “Hypocrisy?”
According to the sketchy police reports that have been released to date, one of the accusers alleges that she let Assange stay in her apartment while she was away. When she returned home early, she agreed to let him stay a few days longer. That evening she was awakened to find Assange on top of her. The other accuser reported similar unsolicited advances.
Granted, there are many suspicious details coming out of the heavily redacted reports, but separating truth from fiction is precisely the reason why we have courts of law.
Months ago, when a Swedish prosecutor filed the initial charges against Assange, Swedish authorities quickly retracted the charges saying that they needed more evidence. After compiling significant sworn testimony, they re-instated the charges. The Swedish authorities would not have done this unless they felt that they had enough evidence to take this case to trial.
At the end of the day, Julian Assange’s innocence or guilt can only be proven in a Swedish courtroom. Let's hope that this trail takes place.
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Frank Michels
Kent Pitman
markinjapan
old new lefty
Steve Klingaman
Alan Nothnagle
Salon.com
Comments
I will say that I think he may have been set up,but, sometimes there is such a thing as a coincidence.
By a coincidence, the US was unhappy with this.
A junior prosecutor re-laid the charges.
His "ambition" wouldn't have anything to do with this at all, I'm sure.
Nor would the pleasure of the US.
Of course not. And snow doesn't melt in hell......
Thank you for your comments. You’ve made some good points. I, too, feel there is too much of a “set-up” odor to this case. But, recognizing the importance of the Rule of Law in any democracy, I feel the determination of guilt or innocence should be handled by a jury and not the media.
At least Assange’s trial will take place in the well-respected centuries-old Scandinavian court system and not in a kangaroo-court in one of the banana republics or the contemporary U.S.
Rule of law? Ha ha ha ha ha hah!
The first rule of law is that any justice found in the practice of law is purely coincidental....
.......and when politics gets mixed into it.......?!