He published material that embarrassed the US government - information like the US government spying on the UN, American helicopter pilots killing Reuters journ

He published material that embarrassed the US government - information like the US government spying on the UN, American helicopter pilots killing Reuters journalists in Baghdad (and the US military then covering it up), and the US tolerating and working with Shiite death squads in Iraq. When governments go after people for publishing embarrassing truths, that's political. Everyone knows why the US government wants Assange behind bars. The CIA Director / Secretary of State made it abundantly clear in his speech that the US intends to go after Assange in order to send a message that the 1st Amendment is no barrier to prosecuting journalists for what they publish. The UK prosecutor is playing dumb.