Mr. Smith, American lawyer expert in secret detention, rendition, and litigation surrounding conduct within conflicts with Afghanistan and Iraq is being interviewed by the defence.
#AssangeCase
Mr. Smith says that he is very familiar with the content of the WikiLeaks content. He says that he has used cables regarding drone programs in Pakistan in court concerning. They have helped to successfully change the programme through litigation.
#AssangeCase
The cables also helped in investigations concerning rendition and torture. They also highlighted the US assassination programme that included around 669 men. The documents show that the targets also include journalists.
#AssangeCase
The defence asks about the Guantanamo Bay files. They enquire about the detainees, and that most detained there were not related to terrorism. The evidence to build the case he worked on was in large part the WikiLeaks Guantanamo files.
#AssangeCase
Mr. Smith used the WikiLeaks documents to disprove allegations the US government was making against his defendant.
#AssangeCase
Mr. Smith has been profoundly shocked with the violence the US government used against his clients: torture, rendition, and even murder. He says that's beyond his capability to understand.
#AssangeCase
In response to the cases brought with the help of the WikiLeaks files, the US has imposed sanctions to ICC members who are trying to investigate war crimes.
#AssangeCase
Prosecution argues that Mr. Smith's statement only starts mentions of WikiLeaks halfway through the statements. The prosecution says that #JulianAssange hasn't been charged regarding the documents he mentions in his statement.
#AssangeCase
The prosecution says that those cables were published by the @NYT and the WaPo, not @wikileaks. And argue that #Assange is not being charged by those cables. I am a bit baffled by this, #Cablegate is part of the indictment.
#AssangeCase
The prosecution argues says that #Assange is only charged with the publication of the cables which are classified 'SECRET'.
#AssangeCase
The prosecution continues to argue that Mr. Assange is not being charged for publishing any documents that do not risk anyone's lives.
#AssangeCase
#JulianAssange interrupts the proceedings as he says that the prosecution is wrong and that he's being charged for receiving and publishing all the information. The Judge scolds Assange for interrupting proceedings and recess for him to consult with his lawyers.
#AssangeCase
#JulianAssange interrupted the court interrupted saying: "This is nonsense," and “apparently my role is to sit here and legitimate what is delegitimate by proxy”
This is such an incredible case to see! I apologize to my readers if I make mistakes & or I'm not completely accurate, this is happening so fast and sometimes I find myself just staring at the screen perplexed with my mouth opened. This should be broadcasted for the world to see!
Read Mr. Clive Smith's statements: defend.wikileaks.org/wp-content/upl…
And: defend.wikileaks.org/extradition-wi…
#AssangeCase
The prosecution challenges Mr. Smith about his statement "little or nothing of the material published can truly threat national security." By asking if he ever worked in classification of national security documents. He replies he hasn't.
#Assange
They discuss the definition of national security document: "the information would be potentially that the information was damaging to national security".
#Assange
Mr. Smith says if you look at the last 19 years the single most damaging thing to the national security has been the over classification of the information.
Usually the US position of classifying information in his work, the US classified information because they were crimes.
The prosecution moves to the book by @davidleighx. In it Leigh says that some documents contained informants names, and #Assange's alleged comment that if informants get killed they have it coming. [Sources present at that moment have told me that this never happened, btw]
Court adjourned for 10 minutes.
The tech people popped up on screen, they are having tech issues again. They really, really, really look like they are working from home!!!
#AssangeCase
Feldstein is describing how a journalist named Anderson suffered a number of intimidation tactics from the White House including smears & sending false information so that he would publish and be discredited. There were plots of assassination by the White House to this individual
Feldstein says that the "Most Wanted" list is a standard and day to day journalistic practice of soliciting information.
#AssangeCase
Summers ask about practices concerning protecting sources identities. Feldstein says that protecting sources is a moral obligation of journalists. It is essential for journalists to protect their sources.
#AssangeCase
Concerning to the alleged names of people in the documents, Feldstein argues that the US government exaggerate on this point to avoid embarrassment and disclosure of crimes.
#AssangeCase
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