Julian Assange, the WikiLeaks kingpin holed up in the Ecuadorean embassy in London, can reboot his laptop all he wants. But he’ll still get one of those infuriating “no connection to the internet” messages flashing red across his screen.
That’s because the Ecuadorean government, which has been hosting the fugitive Assange for more than four years, has cut off his internet privileges.
Why?
Ecuador officials apparently feared they were being played as chumps in a purported WikiLeaks-Russian effort to meddle in the U.S. election via leaked emails involving Hillary Clinton. The U.S. has accused Russian intelligence of hacking Democratic emails, possibly to tilt the election in favor of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s alleged BFF, Donald Trump.
Bravo, Ecuador. This isn’t about silencing Assange and suppressing his operation. It’s about preventing the Ecuadorean embassy from doubling as headquarters for a Putin-Assange campaign to discredit Clinton.
For the record: Yes, Ecuador’s President Rafael Correa has said he prefers Clinton “for the good of the United States and the good of the world.” And now there’s fresh evidence he may be fed up with his long-term house guest, Assange.
Since 2012, Assange has been sheltered by Ecuador from extradition to Sweden over allegations that he raped a woman there. Assange has also said he fears extradition to the U.S. on potential espionage charges.
Ecuadorean officials took pains to reaffirm their decision to shield Assange even as they cut off his internet privileges. But the Washington Post reports that President Correa “is treating Assange like a bad tenant who won’t leave.”
Might want to start a web search for a new apartment, Mr. Assange . . . if your connection is ever restored.
WikiLeaks accuses Secretary of State John Kerry of pressuring Ecuador’s foreign minister to prevent Assange from releasing more Clinton emails. A U.S. State Department spokesman labeled the claim “simply untrue.” If it were true, however, it would be one of the more effective moments in Kerry’s feeble tenure.
The big question remains: Is WikiLeaks colluding with Russia to tilt the election toward Trump?
Assange himself has minced no words in his preference for None of the Above.
And don’t forget, Assange and Putin have history: Russia Today, the state-run propaganda-centric television network, provided Assange airtime for a 10-part talk show series in 2012.
The Useful Idiot is now unplugged. Good.