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I support Assange 100%. The harassment of him for his involvement in wikileaks was completely inappropriate, especially considering that the Guardian and New Yo

I support Assange 100%. The harassment of him for his involvement in wikileaks was completely inappropriate, especially considering that the Guardian and New York Times worked with him on this and would be similarly culpable if there were any culpability; digging around in his sexual history was a pathetic thing to do -- if you try hard enough you would, for a substantial percentage of people (especially successful men), be able to find someone who will make a negative sexual accusation against them, especially if there are inducements to do so; and the general critiques of his character as "arrogant" etc are similarly irrelevant, and also superficial and childish.

gadders 12y ago
As I understand it, it wasn't "digging around", but two women who reported sexual assaults that he committed.
- ps4fanboy 12y ago
  Two women who were interviewed by the police at the same time, who were also friends with the police officer.
  - hedwall 12y ago
    Can you back that up with some sort of credible source?
    - ps4fanboy 12y ago
      http://nnn.se/nordic/assange/sequence.htm http://nnn.se/nordic/assange/sequence.htm http://www.nnn.se/nordic/assange/docs/protocol.pdf http://www.nnn.se/nordic/assange/docs/protocol.pdf Accompanied by Anna Ardin, Sofia Wilén visits a Stockholm police station — by their own account, for the limited purpose of obtaining assistance in compelling Assange to take an HIV test. Anna Ardin is present during the interview with Ms. Wilén, which is conducted by a friend and political ally of Ms. Ardin.
      - hedwall 12y ago
        That is a site dedicated to clear Assange, you don't think they could be partial in their reporting?
        ps4fanboy 12y ago
        Are you suggesting the interviews are fake? Here is the original scanned transcript. It has been translated by other sites if you want to fact check but you seem to have made up your mind. http://www.nnn.se/nordic/assange/docs/memoria.pdf http://www.nnn.se/nordic/assange/docs/memoria.pdf
        hedwall 12y ago
        No I am not. What I do know is that a person is wanted for questioning regarding acts of sexual violence, that person has fled to another country and has refused to return for said questioning, claiming some conspiracy to send him to the USA.
        ps4fanboy 12y ago
        And the fact that neither of the alleged victims d not want to press charges? You asked for sources the least you could do is read them.
- TeMPOraL 12y ago
  It was basically "suddenly, sexual assaults, out of fucking nowhere" case. Coincidence? Also, AFAIR one of those women retracted the accusation, though I might be misremembering something.
  - FireBeyond 12y ago
    I think the 'retraction' isn't something that can be painted one way or another - there are so many valid reasons on both sides that a retraction could be read, from "didn't happen" to "reconsidered" to "didn't want to be part of international media circus".
    - TeMPOraL 12y ago
      Sure, but OTOH. doesn't it strike you weird that allegations of past sexual "crimes" pop up exactly at the moment he pissed of the US Government the most? Why not before?
- Myrmornis 12y ago
  Ah yes, and the timing and context was entirely coincidental. Neither of us know the truth but "digging around" by journalists, law enforcement or intelligence agencies is far more likely to be the reason that this surfaced than pure coincidence.
- _navaneethan 12y ago
  Did he commit it as assault?
octo_t 12y ago
It wasn't his "sexual history", he sexually assaulted two women (and his lawyer admitted it - what he did was a clear breach of consent). I'm not surprised one of the women backed down, they were both being harassed by idiots online for months.
- facepalm 12y ago
  First time I hear about the lawyer, will Google. Anyway, he hasn't even been on trial. How can you be so sure he is guilty? I think that's an uncivilized attitude.
  - Xylakant 12y ago
    He's trying to avoid trial. That's the issue at stake. I think we're all indebted to Assange for what he did at wikileaks, but that doesn't make him a saint. I would think higher of him if he would have stood at the trial and been acquitted or even if he were found guilty and accepted the punishment.
    - facepalm 12y ago
      Didn't he offer to have the trial held in another place? I haven't followed so closely. But the assumption that it might all be a farce to get him delivered to the US doesn't sound completely far-fetched. Assuming he just avoids the trial because he is guilty is silly. If you don't trust the system, it's a good reason to try to avoid it. Edit: since I have googled now, apparently he is not wanted in Sweden for a trial, just for a questioning.
      - Tomte 12y ago
        How gracious! You might have missed that the venue of a trial is usually pre-determined, certainly not chosen at the whim of the defendant.
        facepalm 12y ago
        Out of curiosity, what do you think about Amanda Knox? Italy overturned her acquittal and wants another trial. Do you think she should go to Italy? If she doesn't go, would that make you believe she is guilty?

gadders 12y ago

As I understand it, it wasn't "digging around", but two women who reported sexual assaults that he committed.

ps4fanboy 12y ago
Two women who were interviewed by the police at the same time, who were also friends with the police officer.
- hedwall 12y ago
  Can you back that up with some sort of credible source?
  - ps4fanboy 12y ago
    http://nnn.se/nordic/assange/sequence.htm http://nnn.se/nordic/assange/sequence.htm http://www.nnn.se/nordic/assange/docs/protocol.pdf http://www.nnn.se/nordic/assange/docs/protocol.pdf Accompanied by Anna Ardin, Sofia Wilén visits a Stockholm police station — by their own account, for the limited purpose of obtaining assistance in compelling Assange to take an HIV test. Anna Ardin is present during the interview with Ms. Wilén, which is conducted by a friend and political ally of Ms. Ardin.
    - hedwall 12y ago
      That is a site dedicated to clear Assange, you don't think they could be partial in their reporting?
      - ps4fanboy 12y ago
        Are you suggesting the interviews are fake? Here is the original scanned transcript. It has been translated by other sites if you want to fact check but you seem to have made up your mind. http://www.nnn.se/nordic/assange/docs/memoria.pdf http://www.nnn.se/nordic/assange/docs/memoria.pdf
        hedwall 12y ago
        No I am not. What I do know is that a person is wanted for questioning regarding acts of sexual violence, that person has fled to another country and has refused to return for said questioning, claiming some conspiracy to send him to the USA.
        ps4fanboy 12y ago
        And the fact that neither of the alleged victims d not want to press charges? You asked for sources the least you could do is read them.
TeMPOraL 12y ago
It was basically "suddenly, sexual assaults, out of fucking nowhere" case. Coincidence? Also, AFAIR one of those women retracted the accusation, though I might be misremembering something.
- FireBeyond 12y ago
  I think the 'retraction' isn't something that can be painted one way or another - there are so many valid reasons on both sides that a retraction could be read, from "didn't happen" to "reconsidered" to "didn't want to be part of international media circus".
  - TeMPOraL 12y ago
    Sure, but OTOH. doesn't it strike you weird that allegations of past sexual "crimes" pop up exactly at the moment he pissed of the US Government the most? Why not before?
Myrmornis 12y ago
Ah yes, and the timing and context was entirely coincidental. Neither of us know the truth but "digging around" by journalists, law enforcement or intelligence agencies is far more likely to be the reason that this surfaced than pure coincidence.
_navaneethan 12y ago
Did he commit it as assault?

octo_t 12y ago

It wasn't his "sexual history", he sexually assaulted two women (and his lawyer admitted it - what he did was a clear breach of consent). I'm not surprised one of the women backed down, they were both being harassed by idiots online for months.

facepalm 12y ago
First time I hear about the lawyer, will Google. Anyway, he hasn't even been on trial. How can you be so sure he is guilty? I think that's an uncivilized attitude.
- Xylakant 12y ago
  He's trying to avoid trial. That's the issue at stake. I think we're all indebted to Assange for what he did at wikileaks, but that doesn't make him a saint. I would think higher of him if he would have stood at the trial and been acquitted or even if he were found guilty and accepted the punishment.
  - facepalm 12y ago
    Didn't he offer to have the trial held in another place? I haven't followed so closely. But the assumption that it might all be a farce to get him delivered to the US doesn't sound completely far-fetched. Assuming he just avoids the trial because he is guilty is silly. If you don't trust the system, it's a good reason to try to avoid it. Edit: since I have googled now, apparently he is not wanted in Sweden for a trial, just for a questioning.
    - Tomte 12y ago
      How gracious! You might have missed that the venue of a trial is usually pre-determined, certainly not chosen at the whim of the defendant.
      - facepalm 12y ago
        Out of curiosity, what do you think about Amanda Knox? Italy overturned her acquittal and wants another trial. Do you think she should go to Italy? If she doesn't go, would that make you believe she is guilty?