CIA Plot to Kidnap and Kill Julian Assange During Trump Administration
Several former CIA officers have revealed details of a plot to kill Julian Assange during Donald Trump’s presidency. According to reports, Mike Pompeo, who served as CIA director and secretary of state in the Trump administration, was the principal architect of this program.
Yahoo News, citing information from approximately 30 former officials of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and government officials, has reported on plans to kidnap and murder Julian Assange.
This plan dates back to 2017, when Mike Pompeo was serving as CIA director.
The news outlet reported that the plan to kidnap and kill Julian Assange was discussed at the highest levels of the U.S. government during Donald Trump’s administration.
Armed Confrontation with Russian Officers
The news outlet reported that the Trump administration learned in 2017 of intelligence indicating Russia was attempting to help Assange escape London.
Multiple scenarios were discussed by U.S. security and intelligence officials. Among them was a scenario involving armed confrontation between U.S. and British security officers and Russian intelligence operatives. The stated objective of this armed confrontation was to prevent Assange’s escape.
However, it is said that concerns about uncertain consequences and the possibility of this incident escalating into a broader international crisis led U.S. intelligence officers to refrain from implementing the plan.
Mike Pompeo’s Role
The British newspaper The Guardian, while reporting on the CIA’s plan to kidnap and kill Assange, addressed Mike Pompeo’s role in this operation.
Before being appointed secretary of state in the Trump administration, Mike Pompeo served as CIA director.
It is reported that Pompeo told CIA officials to treat Julian Assange as a foreign spy.
The Austrian newspaper Der Standard also reported on the CIA’s program, including comments by Barry Pollack, Assange’s lawyer.
Following disclosures by U.S. government and security officials, Pollack called on the British government and judiciary to pursue the matter from a legal perspective.
Pollack stated: “As an American citizen, I feel absolute shame and regret upon hearing such news. That our government intended to kidnap and kill someone without legal proceedings. Solely on the charge that he spoke the truth and published accurate information.”
Julian Assange, founder of WikiLeaks, disclosed classified CIA documents in 2010, including documents related to the Iraq War. At that time, several international media outlets, including the German magazine Der Spiegel, proceeded to publish these classified documents.
Source: DW
