U.S. Congress members have urged for the pardon of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.

American congressmen - Democrat James McGovern and Republican Thomas Massie have advocated for the pardon of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, noting that his admission of guilt, as part of a deal with prosecutors, sets a precedent for the prosecution of journalists and whistleblowers for espionage. This is reported by The Guardian .

In a letter addressed to U.S. President Joe Biden, they stated that such a move would send a powerful message to the media in defense of democracy and freedom of speech.

“Simply put, there is a longstanding and well-founded concern that Section 793 [of the Espionage Act], which criminalizes the acquisition, retention, or disclosure of classified information, could be used against journalists and news organizations performing their duties, particularly those covering national security issues,” the congressmen emphasized.

It is worth noting that Julian Assange agreed to plead guilty in the case of leaking classified information.

As is known, Assange faces 18 counts from a 2019 indictment for his alleged role in the breach, which carries a maximum penalty of up to 175 years in prison, although it is unlikely he will be sentenced to the full term.

The U.S. government has pursued the founder of WikiLeaks for publishing confidential military documents provided by former Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning in 2010 and 2011.