It's more than that, it's that Assange actively assisted in the crime. A better analogy would be that as he was casing the joint, he called up someone, told th

It's more than that, it's that Assange actively assisted in the crime. A better analogy would be that as he was casing the joint, he called up someone, told them he was going to break in, and asked for instructions on how to pick locks. At that point, rendering such assistance makes you an accomplice. "Publishing" documents is not what Assange is being indicted for, and his defenders refuse to accept that point. It is cited as an aggravating circumstance, which is indeed arguably an overreach.