Looks like a slip-up reveals that Assange may have already been charged

[MelissaB]

Link to tweet

A slip up may have revealed that the Feds have already charged Julian Assange with a crime. Nice catch by @SeamusHughes.

From an ABC News Reporter:

Guys, this is truly an amazing find by @SeamusHughes. My hypothesis is: prosecutors used a filing in an Assange-related case as a template for a filing in this case, but forgot to change the one paragraph. If true, it means sealed charges have been filed against Julian Assange.

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

In the document @SeamusHughes found, federal prosecutors also say this: “The complaint, supporting affidavit, and arrest warrant ... would need to remain sealed until Assange is arrested in connecting with the charges in the criminal complaint”

Also worth noting that, as of now, there is NO criminal case anywhere in country publicly filed against anyone with the last name Assange, much less a case that has received public attention as described in the prosecutors’ filing.

[OAITW r.2.0]

1. Watch the rats move, with extreme effort, from JA. GG were are you? nt

[MelissaB]

2. Oh lookie! Wikileaks speaks:

Link to tweet

[MelissaB]

3. Another

Link to tweet

[Historic NY]

4. Sure got them going didn't it....

one way to get him out the Ecuadorian Embassy.

[Stallion]

5. Ha! We've Waited for 2 Years and It Just slips out by Mistake?

that would be anti-climatic but right wing sources seem to really be running with this story in recent hours

I want a big production show-rather than the American people expecting it and shrugging their shoulders

[RockRaven]

6. I can think of 2 alternative hypotheses besides the obvious one presented, don't know if either is

more likely than the one presented though. I only think it is worth considering all possible explanations.

One would be that the proposed "template" copied from was not a filing which has ever actually been used, but was a draft of a filing which was never used because the set of circumstances for which it had been prepared ultimately did not came to pass.

Two would be that this "mistake" was "accidentally" included to spook the rats into reacting in a rattish way, so as to better identify them, trap them, or induce them to further incriminate themselves by obstruction or the like.

I'm sure there are more.

But it is intriguing...

[Haggis for Breakfast]

7. and the plot thickens . . .

[Cracklin Charlie]

8. I think you're right about spooking the rats.

Strategy.

[ecstatic]

9. For it to be a cut and paste error means that

nobody proof read and even then, the mistake would likely have been noticed by now and the document would have been removed from the server. Nevertheless, if true, a poor soul just lost his/her job.

I'm leaning towards a strategic leak... or maybe it's truly unrelated.

ETA: I guess it really was an error. Stunning!

[Pepsidog]

10. No chance it was an error. Think of it. They are saying we can't keep it secret so... then forget to

redact his name. No way. Strategic leak all the way.

[ificandream]

11. I guess we'll find out soon

I guess we’ll find out soon. I guess that the Mueller team will announce something tomorrow. I hope this is true.