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A lot of Assange take writers are blurring the lines between the indictment’s “means and manner” paragraphs and the core statutory allegations, which is a shame.
The statutory allegations in the indictment are all about computer intrusion. But the indictment’s “means and manner” characterization of the conspiracy (naturally) mentions that it was a part of the conspiracy Assange was trying to receive and publish information.
I can see why it’s tempting to choose this as one’s line in the sand over press freedom, but it’s not a prudent or necessary one.
By way of illustration, imagine a group of scoundrels who drive from state to robbing grocery clerks at gunpoint before being rolled up by the FBI. The indictment is likely to say, in its means and manner section, that it was part of the conspiracy to use guns and automobiles.
An indictment with those words would not announce an impending federal crackdown on gun owners or motorists. It’s just describing how the thing was carried off. If you’re looking for the thing the govt is *criminalizing*, you need the statutory allegations—e.g. armed robbery.
That’s not to say one can’t reasonably see the fact of the Assange indictment as an assault on press freedom—just that it’s necessary to look beyond its text to do so. (One could argue, for example, that hacking is a thin pretext for what the govt really wants to punish.)
It is to say, however, that the “means and manner” paragraphs aren’t it, chiefs. 
