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And, on exactly what charges would he receive the death penalty? The death penalty under Federal charges is not exactly something that's handed out like candy.
by drone 14y ago
And, on exactly what charges would he receive the death penalty? The death penalty under Federal charges is not exactly something that's handed out like candy. Since 1963 only three people have been given the death penalty at the federal level, and all were murderers.
- jetti 14y agoWell they are trying to hit Assange with the Espionage Act, though the exact punishment for that hasn't readily turned up in my searches. If they could nail him with treason, he would certainly be up for the death penalty, however, since Assange is not a US citizen and therefore doesn't owe allegiance to the US, I don't think he would be able to be charged with it (http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/2381 http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/2381)
- hetman 14y agoThe US federal government retains the legal right to the death penalty for cases of espionage.
- drone 14y agoShow me one example, post 1960, of such a punishment being sought. Further, no such charges have been brought in the US, and more importantly, even several prosecutors have claimed such a charge will be difficult to produce, given the protections we provide the press here. Finally, this whole "fear of death," is completely manufactured. He will get a much fairer shake than all of the Chinese dissidents whose names he released unredacted.
- hetman 14y agoYeh, to be honest life imprisonment probably wouldn't be all that more pleasant than a death sentence. Also the US has, in recent years, demonstrated that its protections are primarily intended for their own citizens. Apparently it's OK to strip foreigners of any such rights, if they are perceived as enemies and this is deemed convenient.
- nsns 14y agoHe doesn't need to get a death penalty, it's enough if they'll give him the same treatment they gave Manning prior to his trial [1]. Enough to make any sane person go mad. [1] http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2011/apr/11/bradley-manning-julian-assange?INTCMP=SRCH http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2011/apr/...
- jjjgtbggm 14y agoPeople as high up as Sarah Palin have called for his execution.