Julian Assange of Wikileaks wrote in a recent op-ed in The Washington Post. "Consistent with the U.S. Constitution, we publish material that we can confirm to be true irrespective of whether sources came by that truth legally or have the right to release it to the media. And we strive to mitigate legitimate concerns, for example by using redaction to protect the identities of at-risk intelligence agents."
Last week in a speech at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, CIA Director Mike Pompeo went further than any US government official and rejected that characterization, saying Assanges had no constitutional protection.
"Julian Assange has no First Amendment freedoms. He's sitting in an Embassy in London. He's not a US citizen," Pompeo said.
How can the CIA director have a completely wrong minded understanding of the US constitutional theory?
The Bill of Rights lists specific prohibitions on governmental power. The founders considered rights to be "God-given" or "natural." These rights are not given by government, but are inate in our humanness. And they are not reserved only for American citizens.
This all hinges upon the uniquely American concepts stated in the Declaration of Independence: that Men, created of God, in turn create their governments and grant to them only "just" (limited) powers--primarily to make and keep secure their God-given, unalienable rights including, in part, the right to Life, Liberty and the Persuit of Happiness.
Pompeo needs to study the constitution and understand its true meaning. The limits are on him not Assage. Truth always reveals itself, sometimes it just needs a little help.
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