The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Trump ‘made pardon offer to Assange’
Leaks: Court claims over Russia link
Donald Trump offered WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange a pardon if he said Russia was not involved in the leak of Democratic National Committee emails, a court has heard.
The claim emerged as Assange, 48, appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court ahead of an extradition hearing next week.
His barrister Edward Fitzgerald QC highlighted evidence alleging former US Republican Congressman Dana Rohrabacher had been to see Assange while he was still in the Ecuadorian embassy in London in August 2017.
He said a statement from Assange’s lawyer Jennifer Robinson shows “Mr Rohrabacher going to see Mr Assange and saying, on instructions from the president, he was offering a pardon or some other way out, if Mr
Assange...said Russia had nothing to do with the DNC leaks”.
A series of emails embarrassing for the Democrats and the Hillary Clinton presidential campaign were hacked before being published by WikiLeaks in 2016.
Responding to the claims in court, White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham told reporters: “It is a complete fabrication and total lie from the DNC.”
Assange is wanted in America to face 18 charges and could face up to 175 years in jail if found guilty.
The extradition hearing is due to begin at Woolwich Crown Court on Monday.