Democrat 2024 presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said Tuesday he would pardon Julian Assange, Edward Snowden, and other “brave truth-tellers.”
“Instead of championing free speech, the U.S. actively persecutes journalists and whistleblowers. I’ll pardon brave truth-tellers like Julian Assange and investigate the corruption and crimes they exposed. This isn’t the Soviet Union. The America I love doesn’t imprison dissidents,” RFK Jr. wrote.
“Other brave truth-tellers include John Kiriakou, Chelsea Manning, Reality Winner, Daniel Hale, Thomas Drake, Jeffrey Sterling, and Edward Snowden. They were trying to return America to its democratic and humanitarian ideals,” he added.
Other brave truth-tellers include John Kiriakou, Chelsea Manning, Reality Winner, Daniel Hale, Thomas Drake, Jeffrey Sterling, and Edward Snowden. They were trying to return America to its democratic and humanitarian ideals.
— Robert F. Kennedy Jr (@RobertKennedyJr) May 2, 2023
Based on a prior Twitter poll conducted by Elon Musk, pardoning Julian Assange and Edward Snowden is the overwhelming choice of the public.
Musk conducted the poll in December 2022, which had 3.3 million respondents.
“I am not expressing an opinion, but did promise to conduct this poll. Should Assange and Snowden be pardoned?” Musk asked.
80.5% voted to pardon Assange and Snowden.
I am not expressing an opinion, but did promise to conduct this poll.
Should Assange and Snowden be pardoned?
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 4, 2022
The National Herald noted:
Both Assange and Snowden have been living in exile after leaking confidential and sensitive information exposing alleged wrongdoings and surveillance by the US security agencies.
Musk has been frequently conducting similar user polls ever since he has taken over Twitter, and has been using these polls for major decisions about the social media website.
Twitter users reacted to RFK Jr.’s comments:
I need someone to explain to me how this is not a a mainstream Republican position.
Why does it take a Democrat to say this? https://t.co/vbMeowbfnX
— Lavern Spicer 🇺🇸 (@lavern_spicer) May 2, 2023
https://twitter.com/rayrayinfla/status/1653473002573447186
Democrat presidential hopeful RFK Jr vows to ‘pardon’ Julian Assange, whose extradition is being sort for revealing evidence of war crimes and corruption #FreeAssangeNOW #WPFD2023 #JournalismIsNotACrime https://t.co/A5UIVQMvKQ
— Defend Assange Campaign (@DefendAssange) May 2, 2023
You are the only Democrat I agree with. https://t.co/hinPhH74zX
— Patriot Colleen 🇺🇸 (@colleen_patriot) May 2, 2023
Unfortunately, RFK Jr is an outsider, much like 2016 Trump was. They both believe(d) they can change the path the country is on, but no politician at the executive level can.
This is one reason we need to spread liberty at a local level. It’s a bottom up approach. The government… https://t.co/ZpVtbhj373— K80 Dubz (@KatieAciditie) May 2, 2023
RFK Jr. noted that the DNC is “rigging” the Democrat primary for Joe Biden.
It's highly unlikely RFK Jr. will break through a rigged Democrat primary.
In recent weeks, Steve Bannon and Roger Stone have proposed the idea of a Trump-Kennedy unity ticket.
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