CERL Executive Board Emeritus member James Clapper speaks with CNN about the recent plea deal of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, and it’s reception among the national security community. Clapper served as director of national intelligence in 2010 when WikiLeaks released classified military and intelligence documents.
“I think critical to this was his plea of one count of espionage. I think the law enforcement community and the Intelligence Community wouldn’t have bought into this without that,” said Clapper. “He did 62 months in jail. Hard time in London. So, he has sort of, you know, paid his dues.”
On Wednesday morning Assange pleaded guilty under the U.S. Espionage Act to a single criminal count of conspiracy to obtain and disclose national defense information, and was officially granted his freedom after being sentenced time served.
Lt. Gen. (ret.) James Clapper is an emeritus member of the CERL Executive Board. He served as the Director of National Intelligence from 2010–2017. Read his bio here.
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