US judge allows lawsuit on CIA role of spying on Assange visitors

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
20 Dec 2023 16:21
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The plaintiffs are accusing the CIA of indirectly and illegally spying on their phones.

A man holding an image of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange with a caption "Hands off Assange" and a US flag covering his mouth in reference to the United States' attempts to silence the prominent investigative journalist in December 2022 (AFP)

Four American citizens, including lawyers and journalists, can move forward with their lawsuit against the CIA in an issue related to a visit to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, a federal judge ruled on Tuesday.

According to the individuals, the US spy agency indirectly carried out an illegal search of their electronic devices when they visited Assange at the Ecuadorian embassy in London.

The ruling by Judge John Koeltl of Manhatten District allows the case, filed in August 2022, to proceed partially.

While claims against former CIA Director Mike Pompeo and embassy security cameras were dismissed, allegations of the agency remotely searching personal devices will be heard in court.

The lawsuit stems from visits the plaintiffs made to Assange between 2017 and 2018.

Press reports and court filings claim that Undercover Global, a Spanish security firm hired by the embassy, was compromised by US spies. Secret surveillance equipment planted to spy on Assange also gathered data on his visitors, including the four American citizens, which was then shared with the CIA, as per the lawsuit.

The plaintiffs accused the Spanish security firm, its CEO Morales Guillen, the CIA, and Pompeo of illegally monitoring Assange's visitors, which was likely motivated by Pompeo's declared hostility, who branded WikiLeaks as “a non-state hostile intelligence service."

However, Koeltl ruled that Pompeo cannot be held personally liable for the alleged search and seizure violations. He also dismissed their complaints about concealed spy cameras but allowed the claims against the CIA regarding the searching of personal devices to proceed.

This case adds another layer to the complex narrative surrounding Assange, who sought asylum in the embassy to avoid extradition to the US.

Yahoo News reported in 2021 that under Pompeo's leadership, the CIA considered extreme measures, including kidnapping or assassination, to apprehend Assange.

British police arrested Assange in 2019 in a raid approved by Ecuador, which revoked his asylum after a new government in Quito was elected. He has since been held in a top-security prison.

WikiLeaks announced on Tuesday that Assange may have a final appeal against extradition to the United States at the UK High Court of Justice in London on February 20 and 21, as he faces 17 charges under the US Espionage Act and a potential 175-year prison sentence.

In its statement, WikiLeaks said that this “may be the final chance for Julian Assange to prevent his extradition to the United States,” which comes after a UK High Court judge rejected all eight grounds for his motion, supporting the 2020 extradition order.

Julian Assange's lawyer recently cited suicide as a possible outcome if the Australian is extradited to the #US on his espionage charges.
Here's a timeline of some key dates from Assange’s life.#JulianAssange #FreeAssange pic.twitter.com/FTSGibxwQO
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) October 30, 2021