Thread by @pbj06

.@aaronjmate @raymcgovern @DEAcampaign My question about Julian Assange to Congressman Adam Schiff, a thread. #FreeAssangeNow Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA) was speaking at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books yesterday, Saturday, April 23, 2022, so I took.../1 of 10

...the opportunity to ask him a question about Julian Assange. First, I identified myself as a constituent of his, which I am. I thought this might provoke a greeting or welcome on his part, but it didn't, perhaps because I was wearing a “Don't Extradite Assange”.../2 of 10

...t-shirt. “You've spoken eloquently about America as an idea, not just a country I said. “But an important part of that idea is freedom of the press. Julian Assange is being imprisoned for the crime of journalism. When you return to Washington, will you ask... /3 of 10

...President Biden and Attorney General Garland to drop their request to extradite him?” My question was met with a scattering of applause – not many, but noticeable. It may be an exaggeration to say that Schiff glared at me, but he didn't look happy. It was a.../4 of 10

...strongly pro-Schiff crowd (“Oh, thank you Congressman, for saving us from Trump, at least so far”) and I don't think he expected a somewhat adversarial question from his first interlocutor. “I have a different opinion of Mr. Assange than you because of his role.../5 of 10

...in laundering Russian-hacked e-mails from the DNC,” he replied. His answer received more applause than my question, but not by much. Again riding the Russiagate pony, perhaps all the way to the U.S. Senate. While he was speaking, I leaned into the mic and.../6 of 10

...said “They were leaked” --- a conclusion this article supports -- consortiumnews.com/2017/07/24/int…
-- but I'm not sure if the mic didn't pick it up, or if he was just determined to override me. /7 of 10

I found his answer disingenuous: How do you “launder” an e-mail? You can launder money, but an e-mail? What was especially disappointing was that he had just finished laying out Republican House Leader Kevin McCarthy as the lying weasel he is, so I was hoping for a... /8 of 10

...more honest answer. Surprisingly, I found him to be largely affable, relaxed and self-deprecating in person: on C-SPAN, he always seems a little startchy and awkward. It's common knowledge that the Republicans are batshit insane, but, sadly, the Democrats don't... /9 of 10

... even have the courage of the convictions they pretend to hold. Given that these are the only national parties allowed, this bodes ill for our nation's future. /10 of 10