Is it because they were politically opportunistic, or because their leaks went against the media's politics? Without question Assange was against HRC and Obama

Is it because they were politically opportunistic, or because their leaks went against the media's politics? Without question Assange was against HRC and Obama. The latter kept him as a political prisoner for 6 years despite UN rulings, "War on Whistleblowers", etc., and the former had already made an appearance in Cablegate and no doubt was not going to let him walk free either. Even if there is a (legitimate) political motivation, facts and misdeeds are facts and misdeeds, and leakers should be protected regardless.