Assange denies encouraging suspected leaker

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Source: AFP

WASHINGTON — WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange denied Friday that he or his whistleblower website had encouraged US Army Private Bradley Manning to pass on masses of secret US documents.

"I had never heard of the name Bradley Manning before it was published in the press," Assange said in an interview with ABC's Good Morning America.

"WikiLeaks technology (was) designed from the very beginning to make sure that we never know the identities or names of people submitting us material," he said.

His comments came amid reports that US prosecutors were trying to build a case against the 39-year-old Australian on grounds he encouraged Manning, who is in US military custody, to steal US secrets from a government computer.

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iVs48jvZEhZoELujR0pPAHdFS85g?docId=CNG.ee663915284de0064f72d69189fad44d.51

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1. Congress Mulls How to Stop WikiLeaks in Its Tracks

Congress weighed its options on Thursday for trying to stop WikiLeaks dead in its tracks after the secrets-spreading site started releasing its trove of 250,000 secret U.S. diplomatic cables last month, infuriating U.S. officials.

One option members of the House Judiciary Committee discussed was revising the Espionage Act, a World War I-era law that has been used to win convictions against officials who leaked classified information but never against journalists, which WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange portrays himself as being.

"We have to look at Espionage Act in the next Congress," said Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich, chairman of the committee. The question, he said, is "what we do and how much change."

The hearing included legal scholars and attorneys as well as former Green Party presidential candidate and consumer advocate Ralph Nader.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/12/16/congress-mulls-stop-wikileaks-tracks/

I know, I know, Fox News ...

[vanlassie]

2. He also managed to put a well needed damper on Matt Lauer

Lauer(MW) charged at him with his first question, but Assange was so self possessed and articulate, it looked to me like Lauer didn't know what to make of it- he's used to dominating his subjects. So,he backed off. Good idea, Lauer.

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3. Yeah, I predict the the US MSM is not going to give Assange the mike a lot. nt

[IScreamSundays]

4. do you know where I can view the clip??

Much appreciated.

Thanks

[Xithras]

5. It's on Hulu

Do a search for "Today Show Assange"