Former President George W. Bush Prejudices the Legal Process Against Julian Assange

[kpete]

Alan Dershowitz

Criminal and civil liberties lawyer
Posted: March 3, 2011 02:48 PM
Former President George W. Bush Prejudices the Legal Process Against Julian Assange


When a former president of the United States weighs in on an ongoing criminal investigation, there is considerable risk that his comments could make it impossible for justice to be fair and objective.

Recently, former President George W. Bush said that Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, "has willfully and repeatedly done great harm to the interests of the United States." He made this statement, through a spokesman, in explaining why he was canceling a speech he had agreed to deliver to the Young Presidents Organization. He said he "had no desire to share a forum with" Assange, even though Assange was to speak by videoconference and they would not literally be sharing a platform or forum.

President Bush is, of course, not alone in expressing negative views about Assange and WikiLeaks, and all Americans have the freedom to express their personal opinions on the leaking of diplomatic cables. Many have argued that the WikiLeaks has actually done great good both for democracy in general and for the United States in particular. That is a healthy debate that will continue to play out around the world, especially in the context of recent developments in the Middle East.

But when a former President states, categorically, that Assange has "willfully and repeatedly done great harm" to our country, such a statement has the potential to distort the processes of justice.

the rest:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/alan-dershowitz/bush-assange-wikileaks_b_830826.html

[spanone]

1. bu$hco has a lot to lose from the wikileaks

[Turbineguy]

2. This is assuming that

the interests of the United States and those of George W. Bush are the same.

[Zoeisright]

3. Bush = irresponsible.

Bush = liar
Bush = war criminal
Bush = stupid
Bush = unfair
Bush = cruelty

[Gravel Democrat]

4. Julian Assange like a hi-tech terrorist, says Joe Biden

US vice-president makes strongest remarks by any White House official over WikiLeaks founder and dipomatic cables

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/dec/19/assange-high-tech-terrorist-biden

The US vice-president, Joe Biden, today likened the WikiLeaks founder, Julian Assange, to a "hi-tech terrorist", the strongest criticism yet from the Obama administration.

Biden claimed that by leaking diplomatic cables Assange had put lives at risk and made it more difficult for the US to conduct its business around the world.

His description of Assange shows a level of irritation that contrasts with more sanguine comments from other senior figures in the White House, who said the leak had not done serious damage.

Interviewed on NBC's Meet the Press, Biden was asked if the administration could prevent further leaks, as Assange warned last week. "We are looking at that right now. The justice department is taking a look at that," Biden said, without elaborating.

The justice department is struggling to find legislation with which to prosecute Assange.
(more...)

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Not going to hold my breath for a comment from Alan on that

This partisan bullshit has ruined this nation

[Robb]

5. Meh. Dershowitz also argued Bush should be able to get a warrant and torture whomever he wanted.