There are Leaks, and there are Leaks

This gave me a good belly-laugh.

Lawyers cry foul over leak of Julian Assange sex-case papers

In a move that surprised many of Mr Assange’s closest supporters on Saturday, The Guardian newspaper published previously unseen police documents that accused Mr Assange in graphic detail of sexually assaulting two Swedish women. One witness is said to have stated: “Not only had it been the world’s worst screw, it had also been violent.”

Bjorn Hurtig, Mr Assange’s Swedish lawyer, said he would lodge a formal complaint to the authorities and ask them to investigate how such sensitive police material leaked into the public domain. “It is with great concern that I hear about this because it puts Julian and his defence in a bad position,” he told a colleague.

I await the flood of comments approving the publication of these documents in the Grauniad.  For the record, I both approve and disapprove.  I approve the Guardian’s even-handedness in putting these papers into the public domain while disapproving the action which may unduly influence a judicial decision.

Article in The Australian.

15 thoughts on “There are Leaks, and there are Leaks”

  2. Indeed, Zen. I thought this was especially, as the saying goes, delicious:

    ask them to investigate how such sensitive police material leaked into the public domain.

  3. Doesn’t anyone question why the original case against Assange was dropped and he was allowed to leave Sweden? If these documents are true why wasn’t he charged when the original complaints were made?

    I have no doubt that those who think him to be the greatest criminal of all time will believe the charges to be true, and will accuse me, and others like me of being naive.

    Sorry don’t believe a word of it – it’s all too damn convenient.

  5. Just out of interest, I wonder if the Guardian will be prosecuted for ‘leaking’ these documents? Will their editors receive death threats and will the Guardian have its assets frozen?

  7. Does the prosecution not have to provide the Defence with all the evidence they have, in any case, before the trial? I sense some mischief at the meatball stand in its being released publicly.
    The lady involved who is quoted, was speaking presumably from a position of some considerable experience to be able to rate him as “the world’s worst screw” – not an accolade any chap would willingly hear trumpeted globally in the media, least of all in the Grauniad, whether true or not!

  8. Bravo

    I made no comment as to whether the Guardian was guilty of a crime – I merely asked whether it and its editors would be treated in a similar way to Assange.

    You have in fact, taken my point. If the Guardian is not guilty of a crime for having ‘Merely published them after they had been leaked by someone else’ – then neither is Assange guilty of a crime for having ‘Merely published’ what he did after they had been leaked by someone else. One cannot assert the first one without acknowledging that the second is also true.

  9. Bravo.

    You approve and disapprove? Strangely, so do I! When I do it, its called “sitting on the fence” though. 😉

    But I do feel that this is all a bit of a media trial.

  10. Now, now, Boa, you asked whether or not the Guardian would be prosecuted for ‘leaking’ the documents. My answer meant to show exactly what you pointed out – that these ‘leaks’ are exactly the same as the others, except, or course, that any damage these leaks cause will affect the ‘publisher,’ of the other leaks.

    The difference between you and me, Araminta, is that I say what I mean and don’t hide behind stupid little winky things.

  11. Stupid little winky things, eh Bravo?

    It’s a tiny clue to those lacking in any sense of humour that I’m just teasing you.

    I do say what I mean, Bravo,; it is just unfortunate that you choose to believe otherwise.

    Climb down from your high horse, Bravo, and stop feeling so patronised.

  12. So, if you re-read my comment, I actually agree with you, but I do think it is all a bit too convenient.

    But, I’m not sure that Assange has much to complain about; he cannot have it both ways.

  13. “The Guardian newspaper published previously unseen police documents that accused Mr Assange in graphic detail of sexually assaulting two Swedish women. One witness is said to have stated: “Not only had it been the world’s worst screw, it had also been violent.””

    The detail disclosed is hardly graphic. Being a lousy screw is not yet a crime. Thank goodness, some might say. As for the violence aspect, well one would likely infer that if the woman was being raped it would involve a level of violence.

    It would not surprise me to learn that Assange’s team arranged the leak.

  15. Reminds me of the old expression, ‘they don’t like it up ’em’.
    Seems to fit all round.

    Any woman who knew how many twos make four could have told you he was a crap screw just by looking at him! Whatever he is or isn’t, one thing stands out from his appearance and facial gestures, he is a slimeball.

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