Thread by @benrileysmith

**Summary of US charge against Assange**
- Linked to 2010 cables leak
- Accused of helping Chelsea Manning crack password to US gov computer
- Would help Manning log on under another name, avoid detection
- Faces maximum 5yrs in prison
- Dependent on being extradited back to US

Assange also accused of actively encouraging Manning to provide more information.

Manning once told Assange “after this upload, that’s all I really have got left", according to US prosecutors.

Assange replied: “curious eyes never run dry in my experience".

Reminder of what Manning obtained
- Four 'nearly complete databases' from US gov, including...
- 90k Afghan war reports
- 400k Iraq war reports
- 800 Gitmo detainee assessments
- 250k State Dep cables

"Vast majority" published by Wikileaks

[Via US indictment]

The Assange charge is just a single count - of conspiracy to hack a government computer.

Legal analysts are speculating whether it's been kept narrow to limit Assange's ability to argue he was acting as a journalist by publishing docs and claiming press freedom.

Chelsea Manning (formerly Bradley Manning) was in jail from 2010-17 but released when Obama commuted her sentence - one of his last acts in office.

But she's now back in jail after refusing to testify to grand jury looking into Wikileaks case.