01:48Mandatory credit: White House
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre claimed that 'journalism is not a crime' and that the Biden administration supports a 'free press', when asked how the new bill on 'shielding journalists' fitted with the attempted extradition of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange on Thursday.
"About press freedom, our government appears to be closer to potentially extraditing Julian Assange," NY Post reporter Steven Nelson began, "Press freedom groups say the case threatens to criminalise our profession, so I'm wondering what the White House is thinking… Does the White House have a stance on the … federal press shield legislation?
The legislation he referred to is set to protect reporters from court-ordered disclosures of confidential sources unless there was a terrorism threat against the US.
" I've said this many times, I said this last week where journalism is not a crime," Jean-Pierre replied. "We've been very clear about that. Uh, and as it relates to this particular legislation, I haven't reviewed it," she admitted.
"The President strongly supports the right of free and independent press….and I'll just quote him for a second: ‘A free press is a pillar of any free society and while we may not always agree with certain coverage or admire it, we do admire the courage of the free press.’ Journalism, again, is not a crime," she underlined.
Nelson followed up by asking: "Just to confirm, no stance yet on the Press Act that you're aware of? And the Assange matter, is there concern about that?”
"You know, I don't have much more to share besides what I just laid out here, so I would just leave it as what I just stated to you," she replied.
The US is attempting to extradite Assange from the UK, with the case currently adjourned until May. Judges have asked Washington for 'assurances' that an extradition and the case would not contravene freedom of expression, wouldn't involve any prejudice during a trial regarding Assange's nationality and would not mean the death penalty in the case of conviction.
He is wanted by US authorities on 18 charges, following the release of thousands of military and diplomatic documents relating to the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
'Journalism is not a crime!' - WH spox on the ropes as reporter contrasts Assange extradition with 'press shield' bill
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre claimed that 'journalism is not a crime' and that the Biden administration supports a 'free press', when asked how the new bill on 'shielding journalists' fitted with the attempted extradition of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange on Thursday.
"About press freedom, our government appears to be closer to potentially extraditing Julian Assange," NY Post reporter Steven Nelson began, "Press freedom groups say the case threatens to criminalise our profession, so I'm wondering what the White House is thinking… Does the White House have a stance on the … federal press shield legislation?
The legislation he referred to is set to protect reporters from court-ordered disclosures of confidential sources unless there was a terrorism threat against the US.
" I've said this many times, I said this last week where journalism is not a crime," Jean-Pierre replied. "We've been very clear about that. Uh, and as it relates to this particular legislation, I haven't reviewed it," she admitted.
"The President strongly supports the right of free and independent press….and I'll just quote him for a second: ‘A free press is a pillar of any free society and while we may not always agree with certain coverage or admire it, we do admire the courage of the free press.’ Journalism, again, is not a crime," she underlined.
Nelson followed up by asking: "Just to confirm, no stance yet on the Press Act that you're aware of? And the Assange matter, is there concern about that?”
"You know, I don't have much more to share besides what I just laid out here, so I would just leave it as what I just stated to you," she replied.
The US is attempting to extradite Assange from the UK, with the case currently adjourned until May. Judges have asked Washington for 'assurances' that an extradition and the case would not contravene freedom of expression, wouldn't involve any prejudice during a trial regarding Assange's nationality and would not mean the death penalty in the case of conviction.
He is wanted by US authorities on 18 charges, following the release of thousands of military and diplomatic documents relating to the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
Mandatory credit: White House
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre claimed that 'journalism is not a crime' and that the Biden administration supports a 'free press', when asked how the new bill on 'shielding journalists' fitted with the attempted extradition of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange on Thursday.
"About press freedom, our government appears to be closer to potentially extraditing Julian Assange," NY Post reporter Steven Nelson began, "Press freedom groups say the case threatens to criminalise our profession, so I'm wondering what the White House is thinking… Does the White House have a stance on the … federal press shield legislation?
The legislation he referred to is set to protect reporters from court-ordered disclosures of confidential sources unless there was a terrorism threat against the US.
" I've said this many times, I said this last week where journalism is not a crime," Jean-Pierre replied. "We've been very clear about that. Uh, and as it relates to this particular legislation, I haven't reviewed it," she admitted.
"The President strongly supports the right of free and independent press….and I'll just quote him for a second: ‘A free press is a pillar of any free society and while we may not always agree with certain coverage or admire it, we do admire the courage of the free press.’ Journalism, again, is not a crime," she underlined.
Nelson followed up by asking: "Just to confirm, no stance yet on the Press Act that you're aware of? And the Assange matter, is there concern about that?”
"You know, I don't have much more to share besides what I just laid out here, so I would just leave it as what I just stated to you," she replied.
The US is attempting to extradite Assange from the UK, with the case currently adjourned until May. Judges have asked Washington for 'assurances' that an extradition and the case would not contravene freedom of expression, wouldn't involve any prejudice during a trial regarding Assange's nationality and would not mean the death penalty in the case of conviction.
He is wanted by US authorities on 18 charges, following the release of thousands of military and diplomatic documents relating to the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.