Ithaka (2021) - full transcript

Breaking news out of the city -
police have confirmed reports

that WikiLeaks founder
Julian Assange has been arrested.

One of the most notorious and
controversial figures in the world

is finally in custody.
controversial figures in the world

is finally in custody.

is finally in custody.
I can't even remember
how I feel about Julian Assange.

I can't even remember
how I feel about Julian Assange.

WikiLeaks! I love WikiLeaks.

10 years ago, Assange shot to fame

when WikiLeaks
began publishing secret documents

provided by former US intelligence
analyst Chelsea Manning.



WikiLeaks first caught
the attention of most Americans

when it released this video.

It shows a US Apache helicopter crew
in Iraq

It shows a US Apache helicopter crew
opening fire on a group of men.

opening fire on a group of men.

Some of them
were journalists from Reuters.

Come on. Fire.

Keep shooting. Keep shooting.

Keep shooting. Keep shooting.

At least a dozen people
were killed in the attack.

We have clear evidence for war crimes having been
committed. At least a dozen people were killed in the attack.

We have clear evidence
for war crimes having been committed.

..that the Metropolitan Police
have arrested Julian Assange.

Hear, hear!



Arrested for breach of bail

after nearly seven years
in the Ecuadorian Embassy.

He has also been arrested in
relation to an extradition request

He has also been arrested in
from the United States authorities.

from the United States authorities.

The Obama administration couldn't
figure out how to charge him
from the United States authorities.

The Obama administration couldn't
figure out how to charge him

without him being able to get
journalistic protection.

Right.

I think it's pretty amazing,

and the Trump administration
should be, like, "Look at us.

and the Trump administration
"We figured it out."

"We figured it out."

"We figured it out."
Now,
after eight years of cat and mouse,

Now,
after eight years of cat and mouse,

Julian Assange is on the precipice
of extradition to the United States.

You've said
that you're proud of your son.

You've now, if you like,
broken cover,

because we didn't really know about
you until this morning, actually.

Why have you decided that
now is the time to speak up for him

and to call
for his repatriation to Australia?

Well, he... Julian can no longer
speak for himself,

and so... so we... his family
and friends must speak for him.

Can we talk about the day
Julian asked you to help?

Can we talk about the day
Can you talk me through that?

Can you talk me through that?

I don't really remember.
Can you talk me through that?

I don't really remember.

What I remember is that he got
arrested, and so I came here and...

What I remember is that he got
arrested, and so I came here and...
..went and saw him in the...

..went and saw him in the...

..went and saw Julian in the jail.

Anyway, he was in a very bad way.

OK. Yeah. Just... just tell me,
how was Julian Assange?

Oh, well,
he's lost about 10 kilos weight,

and he's psychologically
under a lot of stress and pressure.

The visiting hours
are very, very precious.

Sorry. I'm a bit upset.

Yes. This is my first visit. Yes.

Yes. Yes. That...

Yeah.
Yeah.

- Yeah.
- How was... was that... moving?

How was... was that... moving?

It's pretty moving,
- How was... was that... moving?

It's pretty moving,
as you would expect.

It's pretty moving,

OK. Thanks.

Pretty tough.

For him, you know.

I guess that'll do.

Thank you.

Thank you.
- Thank you.

Thank you.
- Thank you very much.

- Thank you.
- Thank you.

Thank you.
So I said, "I'll... I'll be back."

So I said, "I'll... I'll be back."

You know, "I won't stop coming
until you can come home."

And I... I don't
much like the media, but...

..it seems as though there's... was
an avenue where I could contribute.

Can we talk about your contact
with Julian through his childhood?

Can we talk about your contact
Well, I don't think it's a...

Well, I don't think it's a...

..you know,
Well, I don't think it's a...

..you know,
I don't think it'll help, will it?

Well, just understanding that
you didn't connect for a long time.

Yeah. So why do we... I mean, frankly,
why do we have to go over that again?

Yeah. So why do we... I mean, frankly,
It's a serious question.

It's a serious question.

Why do I have to go over the fact

that I may not feel comfortable
with your question?

that I may not feel comfortable
- Mmm.

Mmm.

Well, it's part of the story.
It ISN'T part of the story.

The story is that... you know,
I am attempting, in my own humble...

The story is that... you know,
I don't like that word.

I don't like that word.

..modest way
to get Julian out of the shit.

..modest way
What does it involve?

What does it involve?

Traipsing around Europe,
building up coalitions of friendship.

And I have the feeling that the
desire for a narrative about Julian

And I have the feeling that the
is stronger than the desire

is stronger than the desire

to understand
the person that you are speaking to,

and what you're indirectly doing
is making sense of life

by imposing on life,
as it flows past, a narrative,

because that's what you...
you want to see -

a beginning, a middle and an end
and a conclusion -

which is a convenient...
or what I would call

which is a convenient...
Hollywood way of looking at life.

Hollywood way of looking at life.

But, you know,
life's not really like that at all.

So, what you can do
with these things...

is that you can give it a destiny.

I would prefer
the difficulty of destiny

I would prefer
over the ease of narrative.

over the ease of narrative.

It's good to see you. Yeah.

Julian is suffering
from years of psychological torture,

increasing to the extent
of damaging him.

Thank you very much,
ladies and gentlemen.

Thank you very much,
Julian, of course, is not well. Um...

Julian, of course, is not well. Um...

So I'm
an independent human rights expert

So I'm an independent human rights expert who's
appointed directly by the... the United Nations.

who's appointed directly
by the... the United Nations.

Well, Julian Assange's case,
who's appointed directly
by the... the United Nations.

Well, Julian Assange's case,

it does involve my mandate
on several levels,

although I...
I at first didn't think so, and...

although I... I at first didn't think so, and... ..that's the...
that's the deceptive nature of psychological torture.

..that's the... that's the deceptive
nature of psychological torture.

That... that's the purpose
of psychological torture.

It wants to torture people
without the environment realising

It wants to torture people
someone is being tortured.

someone is being tortured.

Doesn't want to leave traces.

Now, you DO leave traces,
but it's in the mind.

Torture is used to break people,

very often to make them say
what you want them to say

very often to make them say
or not to say anything.

or not to say anything.

But in Julian's case,

it's about
intimidating everybody else.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

I started this thing,
oh, what was it, '73, I think.

Oh, oh, thank you.

And if I had...
And, really, tell him...

..you know, had that in my nature,
I would have been there already.

But I wasn't. You know, I liked building things. ..you know,
had that in my nature, I would have been there already.

But I wasn't.
You know, I liked building things.

Particularly liked building homes.
You know, I liked building things.

Particularly liked building homes.

Particularly liked building homes.
'Cause a... a home, you know,
is a stage for the theatre of life.

'Cause a... a home, you know,
is a stage for the theatre of life.

And it gathers the inhabitants
under its roof

like a hen gathers its chicks.

So I liked that.

That was what I liked doing,
making those things.

- So...
- Ah.

..please have a seat.

Thank... thank you. Alright.

Just have to put this
a little bit closer.
- Thank... thank you. Alright.

Just have to put this
a little bit closer.

Oh.
That's OK for you?

Oh.
Yeah, yeah. Yeah.

Yeah, yeah. Yeah.

Well, I last saw Julian
at three years of age,

and then we re-met
when he was in his 20s,

so, as a child,
I can only go by what his mum says.

I think his nickname was 'Wizard'

and... and shortened to 'Wizzy',

because he was precocious
and inventive and... yeah.

Is that correct?
Yeah, yeah. Yes. Yeah.

Is that correct?
He...

He...

..called in one day,

and we made tea and avocado toast,

and we talked about secrecy,
and we made tea and avocado toast,

and we talked about secrecy,
its benefits and its failures.

and we talked about secrecy,
And he said that the...

And he said that the...

..quality of a society

is founded upon the information
that it can get access to

in order to build something
that is more sturdy

and has deeper knowledge of itself

and consequently can move
to a higher plane of existence.

They are...
that is his but paraphrased,

They are...
that is his but paraphrased,
over days, you know.

because the conversations extended
over days, you know.

This movement
is not about the destruction of law.

It is about the construction of law!

First met Julian in 2002,

in my first physics lecture
at the University of Melbourne.

So Julian was a mature age student
at the time, I think about 30 or so.
in my first physics lecture at the University of Melbourne.

So Julian was a mature age student
at the time, I think about 30 or so.

So Julian was a mature age student
Really... interesting guy.

Really... interesting guy.

Really... interesting guy.
Very much a passionate advocate
for fairness, for justice.

Very much a passionate advocate
for fairness, for justice.

Very much a passionate advocate
We'd just gone to war in Afghanistan,

We'd just gone to war in Afghanistan,

and the question of whether
Australia would go to war in Iraq

and the question of whether
was a topic of discussion,

was a topic of discussion,

and millions of citizens
were marching,

to see if we could
stop this war taking place,

that I think people of the time knew
that it was a bit... it was bogus.

It wasn't actually about the safety
of the Iraqi citizens themselves

or the safety of other nations
around the world.

And we saw this
and we marched and we protested.

No war!

No, no, no!

And nothing happened.
It didn't lead to anything.

And nothing happened.
We still went to war.

We still went to war.

And Julian asked the question,
"Well..."

..you know, "if...
if marching civilians can't do it,

"if letters to our politicians
don't do it, if..."

..you know,
"really good work by journalists

"don't do it in everyday life,
well, what WILL change?

"What WILL enable us to prevent
going to an illegal war?"

After that, I received a broadcast
email from him about WikiLeaks,

and it was clear, actually, that

a real revolutionary idea
had been born,

and Julian's idea, I think, was that
providing this anonymous dropbox,

that's not linked
to any major media organisation.

In some sense, actually,
the idea behind it

In some sense, actually,
is actually just a kind of park bench

is actually just a kind of park bench

where a grey envelope
can be left by someone,

where a grey envelope
picked up later by a journalist,

picked up later by a journalist,

and it used the power
picked up later by a journalist,

and it used the power
of cryptography,

and it used the power
used the power of computation,

used the power of computation,

to enable that to happen in bulk on
a scale that's never been seen before

and to provide
protections of anonymity

and to provide
that had never been seen before too.

that had never been seen before too.

I assume most of you have read...

..some of the... the morning papers.

In July 2010,
..some of the... the morning papers.

In July 2010,
WikiLeaks and its collaborators

In July 2010,
went public with a massive leak.

went public with a massive leak.

The Afghan War logs
came from a trove

of 90,000
incident and intelligence reports.

Almost 400,000
secret US military field reports

painted a grim picture of
the coalition's military activities,

including torture
and summary executions.

Oh, yeah,
look at those dead bastards.

The principle behind it
was remarkable -

the ability
to collect true information

the ability
that was never meant to be in public

that was never meant to be in public

and the power of that information

to show the public
what's really going on -

and Julian's idea, I think,
was that the goal is justice

and Julian's idea, I think,
and the method is transparency,

and the method is transparency,

to say that if we can...

..show what those conversations
really are,

..show what those conversations
the lobbying of military corporations

the lobbying of military corporations

or the lobbying of
strategic interests or oil interests,

or the lobbying of
or whatever it might be,

or whatever it might be,

then that will help foster
or whatever it might be,

then that will help foster
a real debate

about the real questions of...
of why we might go into conflict

or why our governments
might be making certain decisions.

And too much of that conversation
has been hidden,

and I think Julian's passion
and WikiLeaks's passion was to say,

and I think Julian's passion
"It's time for some of that scrutiny

"It's time for some of that scrutiny

"to be placed on these conversations,
not on individual citizens."

You know,
the support in Europe's tremendous.

Italy and Germany,
Greece and now France have

Italy and Germany,
begun to move in Julian's direction.

begun to move in Julian's direction.

..has changed dramatically
since April,

when he was dragged by police from
the Ecuadorian Embassy in London.

A thin and confused-looking
Julian Assange

has been seen for the first time
since his April arrest,

the WikiLeaks founder struggling to remember his birthday
has been seen for the first time since his April arrest,

the WikiLeaks founder
struggling to remember his birthday

as he was told his
extradition hearing WILL go ahead.

Fronting
Westminster Magistrates' Court

in a navy suit and clean-shaven,
Westminster Magistrates' Court

in a navy suit and clean-shaven,

in a navy suit and clean-shaven,
was noticeably thinner,

the WikiLeaks founder
was noticeably thinner,

struggling
to remember his birthdate,

saying, "I can't think properly."
to remember his birthdate,

saying, "I can't think properly."

saying, "I can't think properly."
Assange will remain behind bars
until that full extradition hearing,

Assange will remain behind bars
until that full extradition hearing,

which has been set down for the end of February. Assange
will remain behind bars until that full extradition hearing,

which has been set down
for the end of February.

This is an outrageous affront
on journalistic protections.

That's what this case represents,
and that's why it's so important

that he has adequate time
to be able to prepare a...

..a full and proper defence
to those allegations.

It's important
for people to understand

It's important
what the indictment is really about.

what the indictment is really about.

It included a raft of charges
under the Espionage Act,
what the indictment is really about.

It included a raft of charges
under the Espionage Act,

including receipt and publication
of material.

Now, that's what made it very clear
to journalists

Now, that's what made it very clear
that this was about journalism.

that this was about journalism.

that this was about journalism.
The seriousness of this indictment,

The seriousness of this indictment,

in terms of the criminalisation
of news-gathering activities,

was abundantly clear
once the United States government

slapped 175 years
and 17 potential charges

slapped 175 years
in relation to those publications.

in relation to those publications.

We will shortly
be arriving at Farringdon.

I met Julian
because I had responded to

I met Julian
a email from Jennifer Robinson.

a email from Jennifer Robinson.

The legal defence team
needed more people.

The case was developing
very quickly,

and I was brought on
to work on the US investigation.

In the beginning
of Julian being in prison,

he could only call
a few times a week,

he could only call
when he was in...

when he was in...

..the unit for desperately suicidal
or terminally ill people,

and most of the time,
they're in isolation.

So that's where Julian was
for about six months.

I mean, Julian's had a...

..a very...

..difficult time in the prison.

Yes, but that's not very nice.

You have the nice one, the big one...

Did you rest well?
I did.

Oh.
Yourself?

Oh.
Yes, I did. I feel... I feel human.

Yes, I did. I feel... I feel human.

Yes, I did. I feel... I feel human.
Yesterday, I felt like a monster.

Yesterday, I felt like a monster.

Dad?
Yeah?

Dad?

I took off my shoes already.

Severine,
she asked when... when... when

I'm gonna
get Julian out of jail, yeah.

I'm gonna
Severine thinks it's an immediacy.

Severine thinks it's an immediacy.

We're just coming to pick him up,
you know, get in the cab and...

She doesn't really see
that we might end up in America

She doesn't really see
fighting this battle.

fighting this battle.

You know, I find myself
very different, you know,

in that I have cultivated
within myself a love of family,

because when I left school,
or my father died, after he died,

because when I left school,
I got all the family photographs -

I got all the family photographs -

oh, there was a fucking heap,
I tell you - and I burnt them.

I wasn't going back there,
not for quids.

I wasn't going back there,
- What... you know...

What... you know...

..what was going on
when you did that?

Oh, who knows? You know.
Humans are complex.

Um...

..and...

..so I built...

..copying from books and plays and...

..mentors...

..the elements of families
in myself, yeah,

so I built it.

It's a hou...
it's my mansion, you know,

and it has all these rooms,
which I've...

..decorated and put furniture in,

and I move into them.

No, that was me.

It's still bottoming out somewhere.

I want to stay with you.

Darling, we have to go.

We have to go. OK?

We have to go. OK?
I want to be with you.

Huh?

Becau... you can't
because we can't get in the jail.

Becau... you can't
We're going to places no children...

We're going to places no children...

..it's just an awful place
We're going to places no children...

..it's just an awful place
I'm going to today.

OK.

For whom?

For the lawyers?

When you say 'us',
I don't understand.

Oh.

OK.

OK.
talked about how he... when he was...

Julian's always
talked about how he... when he was...

..you know, when he was a child,
growing up, he always...

..knew he was different,
and he says...

..knew he was different,
..that he wasn't...

..that he wasn't...

..he wasn't afraid
of an alien abduction.

He was hoping that it would happen
soon because he felt like an alien.

He... this must be
the explanation, right?

He... this must be

So it was very funny to... to know

that Julian and... and John
So it was very funny to... to know

that Julian and... and John
had only reconnected

that Julian and... and John
when Julian was already a...

when Julian was already a...

..you know, a mature adult.

Because

Because
they are very similar in some ways.

Because
I mean, I think it's very...

I mean, I think it's very...

..in ways that are noticeable

even to people
who don't know them personally.

Their thought processes
are recognisable -

Their thought processes
ability to abstract...

ability to abstract...

..storytelling...

..and kind of
a cheeky sense of humour.

..and kind of
And he's been really...

And he's been really...

..really good.

I get upset in that fuckin' place.

Three suicides and one murder
this month.

And when did you first know
about Julian and Stella?

Generally speaking...

..unlike other people...

..I don't invade people's privacy,

nor I am...

..curious as to what...
who's going out with whom.

..curious as to what...
Um...

Um...

..so...

..if I saw anything that intimated...

..intimacy...

..I...

..ignored it

or put it under the list
of familiarity.

They've spent 10 years

being pursued

by four powers,

one of them
by four powers,

one of them
being the foremost power on earth.

In an extraordinary twist
to the WikiLeaks story,

Julian Assange, the founder
of the whistleblower website,

has taken refuge
in the Ecuador Embassy in London.

has taken refuge
in the Ecuador Embassy in London.
- Assange is seeking asylum

Assange is seeking asylum

because he fears
extradition to Sweden

may lead to his transfer
to the United States,

where he could potentially
face charges relating to WikiLeaks.

It was around 2015
that we got together in the embassy,

and we discussed the impossibility
of having children for a long time.

and we discussed the impossibility
And we experienced this both as...

And we experienced this both as...

..as a massive tragedy,

because we had found each other,

and in 2016... it seemed like
2016 was a turning point,

because the UN Working Group
on Arbitrary Detention

had just ruled in favour of Julian
and against the UK,

saying that they were holding him
without any legal basis

and that they were
actually violating international law

by keeping him in the embassy, and... and... and
that they were actually violating international law

by keeping him in the embassy,
and... and...

by keeping him in the embassy,
and... and...
..and it just seemed like...

..and it just seemed like...

..clearly, it was just a matter of
time before Julian could walk free.

..clearly, it was just a matter of
time before Julian could walk free.
So when we decided to start a family,

So when we decided to start a family,

it was in a context
where there were no charges,

it was in a context
there was no investigation,

there was no investigation,

there was no reason for Julian
to be stuck in that embassy.

So we had Gabriel in mid-2017,

and then I would bring him into
the embassy with my friend Stephen,

and... and that way,
Julian was able to see our baby,

and that continued
for about six months.

Obviously, the Embassy of
Ecuador is a very small apartment,

but we... we couldn't have Julian
on his own.

We didn't have a security company.
but we... we couldn't have Julian
on his own.

We didn't have a security company.

We didn't have security personnel
We didn't have a security company.

We didn't have security personnel
for the first two months.

That's why we... I was... I was with
Julian full-time in the embassy.

That's why we... I was... I was with
Julian full-time in the embassy.
Uh...

Uh...

..everything changed.

Absolutely everything changed.

WikiLeaks walks
like a hostile intelligence service

and talks like
a hostile intelligence service.

and talks like
a hostile intelligence service.
- The reaction from the US government

The reaction from the US government

after the publication
of the CIA material,

after the publication
it felt like there was a change,

it felt like there was a change,

which was indicated publicly
by Mike Pompeo

saying that WikiLeaks was a
hostile non-state intelligence agency

and that the First Amendment
should not be used to benefit

and that the First Amendment
Julian Assange and foreign nationals

Julian Assange and foreign nationals

who publish information
about the United States.

Immediately after that,
we saw the US attorney-general saying

that it was a priority
to prosecute Julian.

It was a clear strategy
that emanated from the CIA.

Very soon
after the publication of Vault 7...

..I can see a breaking point

when Ecuador stopped protecting
..I can see a breaking point

when Ecuador stopped protecting
Julian Assange.

when Ecuador stopped protecting
Violent clashes have erupted

Violent clashes have erupted

on the streets
of Ecuador's most populous city

following the country's knife-edge
presidential election result.

The win also has implications
outside of Ecuador,

with the fate
of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange

directly tied
to the election result.

directly tied
I could...

I could...

..see obviously that...

..the government had already
shifted completely its politics,

in approaching the United States in
order to build a new relationship.

in approaching the United States in
So soon after, they change all...

So soon after, they change all...

..the cameras
So soon after, they change all...

..the cameras
existing in the embassy.

These cameras
were only three years old.

There was not any need
were only three years old.

There was not any need

to change them.

to change them.

You know, the whole place

was basically bugged by the CIA.

was basically bugged by the CIA.

Beginning of 2018, there was a
grab team posted outside the embassy

during the Christmas period.

You know,
the streets were deserted outside

and there this was car
that was there, conspicuous,

and there this was car
for... for us to see,

for... for us to see,

and I remember John was there,
for... for us to see,

and I remember John was there,
and we had...

..we had Christmas dinner and...

..and we... you know, we knew these...
these guys were sitting out there.

We found out
that there were plans to kill Julian

We found out
by poisoning him and...

by poisoning him and...

..abducting him from the embassy.

Um...

..they grew...

..increasingly aggressive.

We were all noticing
..increasingly aggressive.

We were all noticing

more unidentified cars,
people around the embassy.

We all felt that the
level of surveillance on all of us

We all felt that the
level of surveillance on all of us
became more intense.

became more intense.

And we now know
that we were right to feel that.

The CIA made plans to
assassinate Julian, to kidnap him,

to arrange for him
to be dragged out of the embassy,

which ultimately he was.

I mean, the level of intrusion
into HIS life, and into OUR lives,

I mean, the level of intrusion
as his lawyers...

as his lawyers...

..as people who...

..as people who...
..friends who went to visit him...

..friends who went to visit him...

..anyone who went to see him

was under this kind of surveillance.

It got so bad that I had...

..I was afraid
about walking home at night.

Because I thought, you know...

..I could just be beaten up
and assaulted or even killed

just as a message to Julian.
and assaulted or even killed

just as a message to Julian.

And that's why towards the...

..the final three months
of my second pregnancy,

we decided it was best
for me not to go in.

And thank you
for the gracious welcome

that you have shown to me
on our very first visit to Ecuador.

that you have shown to me
- So in that period,

So in that period,

we had the visit
of Vice-President Pence,

which was the highest US operative
to ever visit Ecuador.

And we know that
in that conversation...

And we know that
..the asylum of Julian,

..the asylum of Julian,

when he met the president,
was on the agenda.

when he met the president,
The historical dependence of...

The historical dependence of...

..of many South American countries,
The historical dependence of...

..of many South American countries,
and Ecuador in particular,

..of many South American countries,
on the United States is so huge,

on the United States is so huge,

economic dependence
and political dependence...

..that...

..they don't need to come out with
a concrete financial offer to say,

"I will give you this
in exchange of this."

They just...
they just bang the table and say,

"Our relationship is going wrong

"as... as long as this man
is still in there."

No?

Oh, wow. We have a lot of...
stories to get through tonight.

I will help you, Mama.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Alright. Shall we start
with The Gingerbread Man?

Yeah.

Alright.

"Once upon a time,
there was a little old man.
Alright.

"Once upon a time,
there was a little old man.

"Once upon a time, there was a little old man.
"One day, the little old woman made a gingerbread man."

"One day, the little old woman
made a gingerbread man."

Maybe Fergus Finds a Friend?

The Saggy Baggy Elephant?

That's quite good.

And the Going on a Lion Hunt?
Did you say you knew that one?

Mmm.

It's the... the bear hunt one.
They know the bear hunt one.

"We're going on a bear hunt."
Oh, yeah.

"We're gonna find..."
Yeah.

"..a big one."

Can we come in?

Ah.

She cannot talk
'cause we've got to keep still.

Extraditions
are 99% politics and 1% law.

It's entirely the...

..political climate around the case
that decides the outcome,

and that is shaped by the...
by the media.

And for many years,
there was a climate that was created,

deliberately created,
through false stories,

through smears,
through kind of a character...

..relentless character attacks
on Julian,

to try to reduce that support
and make it more possible, um...

..more likely, to successfully
extradite him to the United States.

..more likely, to successfully
And... I think it took about a year

And... I think it took about a year

to really feel like I was in a place
where I could go public.

Oh, where are those notes?
Can I just have a look?

Oh, where are those notes?

Yeah.

Thank you very much
for talking to us.

I want to ask you first of all how you first met Julian
Assange Thank you very much for talking to us.

I want to ask you first of all
how you first met Julian Assange

and what you thought of him when
you first met him nine years ago.

I met Julian in Paddington,
at the Frontline Club.

I thought he was intriguing,
a man with a... with a mission.

I thought he was intriguing, a man with a... with a mission.
Julian Assange went into the Ecuadorian Embassy in London

Julian Assange went into
the Ecuadorian Embassy in London

because he wanted to avoid being extradited to Sweden
Julian Assange went into the Ecuadorian Embassy in London

because he wanted to avoid
being extradited to Sweden

to face questioning
about allegations of sexual assault.

to face questioning
You know that case very well.

You know that case very well.

What did you think
of the allegations made

by Miss A and Miss W against him?

by Miss A and Miss W against him?
What has to be understood about the
Swedish preliminary investigation,

What has to be understood about the
Swedish preliminary investigation,

because it was always
a preliminary investigation,

because it was always
was that Julian always cooperated.

was that Julian always cooperated.

He did not go into the embassy
because he was avoiding questioning.

In fact, he was offering questioning.

Julian was never charged.

None of their names should have
been leaked, including Julian's.

None of their names should have
I think the Swedish prosecution...

I think the Swedish prosecution...

It's too long.

I told him it's too long, but
they don't take any notice of me.

I told him it's too long, but
One hour maximum.

One hour maximum.

These stupid PR people.

Just sick of them.

Earlier this year, you said,
"Everyone has failed Julian.

"We've all failed Julian."

What did you mean?

I mean that Julian...

..is...

..extremely vulnerable,

now physically in the country's
highest-security prison.

He's in there
because he exposed torture.

He's in there
The contrast...

The contrast...

..just the...

Sorry.

..the injustice is overwhelming.

And it's hard year after year.

I don't think
this is people's values.

I don't think they think
that people who expose war crimes

should go to prison
for the rest of their lives.

Uh, perhaps...

Do you want some... tissue, yeah?

Come here. Come here.
Come here. Come here.

Use this one.
Thanks.

Pear.
You're eating pear.

How do you
deal with the fact that...

..your fiance may lose his fight
against extradition,

he may be sent to America,
he may be tried, he may be jailed?

he may be sent to America,
How do you cope with that?

How do you cope with that?

It's not a... it's not a choice.

Um... you love who you love, and...

Um... you love who you love, and...

..I love Julian for the courageous
person he is, and I'll stand by him.

Oh, my God.

It was, like...

I said that. I said that.

I said that, and I think that's
why they kept on going back to it,

because they... I...they
didn't get the answer they wanted.

Anyway. It was always gonna happen
with her.

Open the door.
Anyway. It was always gonna happen
with her.

Open the door.

Open the door.
Julian's legal team contacted me,

When
Julian's legal team contacted me,

I have to admit, I mean, I...
I just saw the message

I have to admit, I mean, I...
I just saw the message
kind of coming up on my screen,

kind of coming up on my screen,

"Julian Assange's legal team
ask for your protection."

"Julian Assange's legal team ask for your protection."
And I immediately had this reaction of,

And I immediately
had this reaction of,

"No, I'm not gonna get into this.
I'm not gonna do this."

But this reaction was not based
on an objective evaluation,

and I have to admit today,
to my shame,

it was just an emotional reaction
based on prejudice

that I had in myself
I wasn't even aware of.

that I had in myself
Why am I admitting to my prejudice?

Why am I admitting to my prejudice?

Because I think...

..all of us had them at some point,
Because I think...

..all of us had them at some point,
maybe...

..all of us who had not been in a
personal contact with Julian Assange

..all of us who had not been in a
have been affected by this,

have been affected by this,

because this is the public narrative

that has been spread in the media
for 10 years,

and no-one has been able to...

..actually see
how much deception there is.

..actually see
Why is this being done?

Why is this being done?

For 10 years, all of us
have only focused on Julian Assange,

when he never wanted it
to be about him.

when he never wanted it
It never WAS about him.

It never WAS about him.

It was about the States

and their war crimes
and their corruption.

That's what HE wanted
to put the spotlight on.

That's what HE wanted
And he did.

And he did.

And that's what made them angry.

They put the spotlight on him.

You know, over the last 10 years,

journalists,
for some reason or other,

journalists,
have seen fit to service...

have seen fit to service...

..the government's attacks on Julian

at the collapse
of their own self-interest

at the collapse
and the s... their stature.

and the s... their stature.

After so many years
of smearing and lobbying,

this is... a good sign

that the newspapers...

..realise that
the extradition of Julian Assange

..realise that
and the destruction of WikiLeaks

and the destruction of WikiLeaks

is the collapse of THEIR power.

We... the mass media
serves only power and money, really.

We... the mass media
Each...

Each...

..outlet serves
Each...

..outlet serves
a different cohort of the society.

..outlet serves
That's their function.

That's their function.

And if they drift from that,
then they will no longer exist.

In 1971, Ellsberg
was a high-level Pentagon analyst

when he leaked a top-secret report
on US involvement in Vietnam

that became known
as the Pentagon Papers,

which documented how officials had
lied to the public about the war.

If Julian is extradited to the
United States to face these charges,

he will be the first journalist
and publisher but not the last.

New York Times
probably won't be the second either.

New York Times
It might be the third or the fourth.

It might be the third or the fourth.

It might be the third or the fourth.
Really,
the American press has remained

Really,
the American press has remained

in kind of a state of denial for 40 years, really,
since my case, Really, the American press has remained

in kind of a state of denial
for 40 years, really, since my case,

but the Espionage Act
has wording in it

that could be aimed
directly at them,

that could be aimed
at the journalists and publishers,

at the journalists and publishers,

although until THIS case,
at the journalists and publishers,

although until THIS case,
it hasn't done so.

although until THIS case,
it hasn't done so.
So the stakes here are enormous

So the stakes here are enormous

and for freedom of the press
all over the world in this.

- Free Assange!
- Free! Free!

Free Assange!
Free! Free!

Free Assange!

Free! Free!

Free Assange!

Julian Assange
is preparing to head to court,
Free Assange!

Julian Assange
is preparing to head to court,

where a hearing will begin
into whether he'll be extradited

to the United States.
into whether he'll be extradited

to the United States.

Protesters have marched
across Central London,

calling on Britain to reject
the WikiLeak founder's deportation.

calling on Britain to reject the WikiLeak founder's
deportation. Thanks for waiting, ladies and gentlemen.

Thanks for waiting,
ladies and gentlemen.

Thanks for waiting,
What's at stake?

What's at stake?

For Julian, his life.

For you guys...

..any prestige that you can gather
as a journalist protects you.

So this'll be the end.

Nobody ever again

will be able to get the assistance
of 100,000 people worldwide

to defend them,

100 lawyers,

six jurisdictions,

in order to defend Julian Assange.

It'll never happen again.

If... if he goes down,
so will journalism.

Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you very much.
Thank you.

Can we get one?
Yeah. Yeah. Oh, yeah. OK.

Everybody... we're here... we're here
until everybody's satisfied.

Everybody... we're here... we're here
Yeah. Perfect.

Yeah. Perfect.

How does it feel to be the father

of such a controversial figure,

somebody who's known
around the world?

Well, I don't see Julian myself as controversial.
somebody who's known around the world?

Well, I don't see Julian myself
as controversial.

I see him as a... a good man.
as controversial.

I see him as a... a good man.

I see him as a... a good man.
I support Julian Assange
because he's my son

I support Julian Assange
because he's my son

and this is what a father does

when their children
are in difficulty or in trouble.

when their children
We are...

We are...

..very trusting of our governments,

because we believe we elect them,

and I'm sure
that governments all over the world

and I'm sure
will be... begin to realise

will be... begin to realise

that they're faced
with a tremendous credibility gap.

Just want to shake your hand.
Thank you for Julian, honestly.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
You've done a really good job.

So proud.
Thank you.

Could I just do a quick...?
I can't do 15 minutes.

No, you can't. I know. Yeah, OK.
We'll just be... I'll be five.

I'll be dead.

My name's Fionn O Lochlainn. And...
Fionn. Fionn.

Fionn O Lochlainn.
OK.

My first album is called
Spawn of the Beast.

I should have been
on that stage today,

I should have been
but for some reason,

but for some reason,

your organisation
won't get in touch with me.

It's not MY organisation.
I'm not even in it!

Of course. Forgive me. They're
not... not... not your organisation.

They're all over there.
I'm here getting earbashed by you.

I thought I'd speak to you
because I...

- Seconds.
- Sorry. I'm so sorry.

Just please, please, please let him
know when you see him tomorrow

there are many people from
Australia, me being one of them,

there are many people from
that are deeply thinking of him.

that are deeply thinking of him.

Go?

My name is John Shipton.
I'm Julian Assange's father.

I've come to the rally here today
in Parliament Square.

Yeah, let's sit down. I mean,
I'm fuckin' worn out, you know.

Britain enters lockdown.

Now people can only leave their
homes for very limited reasons.

Now people can only leave their homes for very limited
reasons. From this evening, I must give the British people

From this evening,
I must give the British people

From this evening,
a very simple instruction.

a very simple instruction.

You must stay at home.

That is the critical thing
we must do

to stop the disease
spreading between households.

The Australian Parliament
have called on

British officials and the judge
to release Julian Assange

due to the rapid spread
of coronavirus

due to the rapid spread
among the prison population

among the prison population

and the workers at Belmarsh Prison,
among the prison population

and the workers at Belmarsh Prison,
where Assange is being held

23 and a half hours a day
in a solitary confinement cell.

23 and a half hours a day
Yeah. OK. Yeah. OK. Yeah, alright.

Yeah. OK. Yeah. OK. Yeah, alright.

I just... you know, I've got
the young family back in Australia

I just... you know, I've got
I haven't seen now for months.

I haven't seen now for months.

So that's a bit awkward.

And Julian's now 23 hours a day
in the cell, because it's locked down

and half the staff are off
because they're all sick with COVID

or... or too frightened
to come to work.

The jail's in lockdown.

I don't know how they're
getting papers backward and forward.

They say that they have only had
one hour with Julian in five weeks.

"According to prosecutors..." Yeah.

This is why we need you on bail.

We need... Yeah.

We need... Yeah.
I mean, I... I can't see
how we can possibly...

I mean, I... I can't see
how we can possibly...

..prepare a defence
on these fucking phones that are...

Anyway.
..prepare a defence
on these fucking phones that are...

Anyway.

Anyway.
Assange obtained evidence...

"According to prosecutors,
Assange obtained evidence...

"According to prosecutors,
Assange obtained evidence...
"..access to..."

"..access to..."

Sorry.

You have to call me back.

Call me back.

Did you hear the story I sent you?

No.

It's about the Snoceros and Rapunzel.

And Jill and Princess Mouse.

And Jill and Princess Mouse.
Do you want to
talk to me all day or...

Do you want to
talk to me all day or...

Do you want to
..would you... or have a little rest?

..would you... or have a little rest?

I want to talk to you forever.

No! I can't talk forever.
I need to eat food.

No! I can't talk forever.
OK. Alright.

OK. Alright.

I'll talk to you tomorrow, then.

How do we communicate this
to Julian?

How do we communicate this
Because...

Because...

..we're 10 days away
from the evidence deadline.

We can't give him documents.
We can't go to see him.

We can't give him documents.
Basically, what we'll have to do

Basically, what we'll have to do

is we'll have to read out this
49-page document over the phone.

He can't even
take notes on a laptop,

because he doesn't have a laptop.

Hi.

Yeah.

Yeah.
that's where I work to fit in,

Anyway,
that's where I work to fit in,

Anyway,
as I'm an old man, and I... you know.

as I'm an old man, and I... you know.

Um...
- Yeah.

Um...
..uh... uh... uh... I...

..uh... uh... uh... I...

OK. OK.

Your question to my answers
always gets a raised eyebrow.

Yes.

- Yes.
- Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah.

Was that him on the phone before?

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
- Yeah.

What are you talking about
on a... on a kind of regular basis?

What sort of things?

Mmm.

I think it must be nearly 11 years
since Julian...

..was in the company
of a tree or a plant...

..or a caterpillar
or a butterfly, and...

..so he asked me, you know, did we have a walk in
the forest? ..or a caterpillar or a butterfly, and...

..so he asked me, you know,
did we have a walk in the forest?

did we have a walk in the forest?

It's a sunny day out here.

And, yeah, it was pleasant enough.
It's a sunny day out here.

Bonding, I suppose, you know,

when walking with his family
and so on, yeah.

I think if you apply, you know,
your understanding

to what it would be like to live
in a room for seven and a half years.

You just know
every nook and cranny and...

You just know
..you know.

..you know.

Everything would be familiar with it.
It's still ongoing.

So, yeah, the challenge is to
make him laugh, you know, when he...

..rings up, which I do, you know.

A happy family
relaxing in a London park,

but there's a hole
at the heart of it.

Stella Moris was part of Assange's legal
team but there's a hole at the heart of it.

Stella Moris
was part of Assange's legal team

Stella Moris
before she got engaged to him.

before she got engaged to him.

Today,
Stella will be at the Old Bailey

for the start of
up to four weeks of legal arguments

over whether her fiance
should be extradited to America.

Julian hasn't seen his lawyers
for six months.

The first day
that he'll have seen his lawyers

will be today.

will be today.

Bye, sweetie.

Julian Assange is in our headlines.

He's in a London courtroom
this morning

finally facing
an extradition hearing.

The court is to decide if Assange

should be extradited
to the United States
The court is to decide if Assange

should be extradited
to the United States

to face a trial
over the publication of secrets.

to face a trial over the publication of secrets.
The Trump administration wants the Australian

The Trump administration
wants the Australian

to face charges of espionage.

Legal observers say
it's an unprecedented breach of

Legal observers say
US free speech protections.

US free speech protections.

The US Department of Justice
is going after him

under a different law now,
the Espionage Act.

That law has been used
against whistleblowers before

That law has been used
but never against a publisher.

but never against a publisher.

We've never in this country
successfully charged somebody
but never against a publisher.

We've never in this country
successfully charged somebody

for publishing secret material.

There is a reason -
it's called the First Amendment -

that the US government has never
it's called the First Amendment -

that the US government has never

successfully
made that a crime before.

But here, with Assange,
they are trying to do it.

But here, with Assange, they are trying to do it.
If Assange's publishing of classified information

If Assange's
publishing of classified information

If Assange's
runs afoul of the law,

runs afoul of the law,

so does the work of just about
every single serious press outlet,

so does the work of just about
this one included.

this one included.

The First Amendment protects
this one included.

The First Amendment protects
the basic right of a free press

The First Amendment protects
and a free people

and a free people

to publish truthful information
about matters of public import,

whether
the government likes it or not.

All good?

Morning, John.
Good morning.

Morning, John.
Good morning. Good to see you.

Good morning. Good to see you.

Good morning, Stella.

Please move, please!

Please. Move round these people.

Our defence team
Please. Move round these people.

Our defence team
was working around the clock

Our defence team
for more than a year.

for more than a year.

Ever since Julian went into prison,

a huge amount of effort was
put into collecting the evidence,

to set
the historical record straight.

to set the historical record straight.
It was about putting before the court evidence to show

It was about putting
before the court evidence to show

that so much of the misinformation
that was put about

about the nature of WikiLeaks
publications, the timing of them,

how they came about,
the redaction processes,

for us, it was incredibly important
to make sure

that a judge
properly understood this

and the public properly understood
the significance of this case,

its significance
from a free speech point of view,

the public interest
in the WikiLeaks publications.

Free Julian Assange!

When did you last speak
to him and see him face to face?

Six months ago,
when COVID locked down.

They're not allowed to see anybody.

Have you... have you seen him today?

Only in the glass box.
Oh, OK.

Yeah.
Yeah. And how is he?

Uh... is he...

I can't answer that. How do I know?

I was sitting upstairs.
He's in the glass box downstairs.

It's... I would love to
go and see him, but it's not allowed.

I'll bring you a coffee here.

I'm going to go and have a coffee.
Yeah. I... I met you and I know you.

I have to go. I have to go.
I have to look after...

Can I ask one question for the news?
No. No. No! I just did 10 questions.

You have to come to this...
Thank you so much for this.

Thank you.

Free Julian Assange!
I'm done. I'm done. I'm done.

Just... just... just... just one thing.
I'm done.

Just... just... just... just one thing.

Oh, dear.

Yeah. Oh, yes.

Well, you know.

Thank you.

Oh, you... you...
Yeah?

Oh, you... you...
Yeah?
you would.

..if you were fighting for YOUR kids,
you would.

..if you were fighting for YOUR kids,
Yeah. I... I hope so.

Yeah. I... I hope so.

Free Julian Assange!
Now!

Free Julian Assange!

Now!

It is an aberration
that Julian is not a free man.

In no sane world
can this be normalised.

Yeah.

Yes.

It's OK.

We're here,
and this has only come about

because we have a problem, you know.

We have a child in the shit.

And...

..I want to get him out.