It had to be this way. There is a reason SecDef was replaced with Miller. Why Ezra moved and gave a speech publicly for first time. A reason DOD pulled all support for CIA operation...

We're moments away from British judge announcing extradition decision in WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange's case. I'll have live updates shortly.

In their closing argument, Assange's legal team outlined how they believed the case brought by the Trump Justice Department was "politically motivated"

The Crown Prosecution Service, which represents the US government in the extradition proceedings, has contended WikiLeaks is in the "business of encouraging individuals to hack into computers"—clearly criminalizing their decade-plus record of journalism.

I see a bench inside of a glass container, where Assange will be isolated during the announcement of extradition decision. This has been standard practice during his case, even after he complained about how it infringed upon his ability to participate in his defense.

Overheard Fitzgerald, who is on Assange legal team, complaining about lack of water.

"It's not as bad as Iwo Jima, I suppose..."

Oh boy. A fed. judge in DC denies motion from Trump followers to enjoin VP Pence from counting votes tomorrow.

"It would be risible were its target not so grave: the undermining of a democratic election." https://t.co/GGHubkBqkn

Also, they never provided proof of service.

(This is the one where they never would have been able to provide such proof anyway at least as to their claim to have sued "the Electoral College" which is not a concrete entity that can be sued.)

Guys, it's a short order, and you HAVE to go read it. It is dripping with scorn.

"It is not a stretch to find a serious lack of good faith here."

"...difficult to believe that this suit is meant seriously."

Ends with a warning that the judge is considering issuing an order to show cause.

This is the one filed by counsel from the Thomas More Society, a special interest law firm that at one time was more known for its religious freedom litigation than, well, whatever it's been doing lately.

@stphnfwlr Judge Cohen is going off on them for waiting until after the certification and audit.

“It was a decision knowing ... that you’d take away time from the superior court to resolve” the claims.

Now saying that the only remedy that they can get is congressional objection and vote.

Cohen is highly skeptical that a federal judge can’t invade congressional authority after state certification of an election.

Again reiterating that trump waited too late to make a challenge since only remedy is Congressional rejection of state electors.

1. Julian #Assange #BailAssangeUK US counsel opposes bail: “cannot be trusted to surrender”

2. US counsel refers to Julian #Assange and “others at @wikileaks “ *orchestrating* @snowden’ escape as a legal ground to oppose #BailAssangeUK

3. Tremendously interesting to see how US counsel just confirmed that @wikileaks original plans was to help @snowden to get protection in #LatinAmerica

4. US counsel mention UK spent 16 million pounds of UL taxpayers to keep Julian #Assange under surveillance in the embassy as an argument to deny #BailAssangeUK : my #Foia unearthed damning documents on how UK didn’t care about the money

5. US counsel argues that the suicide risk assessed by Julian #Assange’s medical experts is NOT well grounded. “NOT so severe as defence assessed”

US law enforcement has literal centuries of shameful history of infiltrating and spying on politically disfavored activist groups, from trade unionists to suffragists to abolitionists to civil rights advocates to antiwar advocates.

1/

Long before #cointelpro, federal agencies were intercepting communications and embedding as provocateurs in radical political movements, often with the help of mercenary "contractors" like the @pinkerton_agent. The digital age only ramped up this public-private surveillance.

2/

The #NoDAPL protests were infiltrated and surveilled by beltway bandits who billed the US taxpayer handsomely for the

2020's #BLM uprising was subjected to the full array of military and national intelligence surveillance: drones, IMSI catchers, mass interception, infiltrators, wiretaps, "reverse warrants" to recover location data from Big Tech monopolists and

And yet, federal and local agencies were seemingly totally unprepared for a mob of thousands of armed terrorists who stormed the capitol, disrupted the transition of presidential power, and threatened the lives of US legislators as well as the integrity of state documents.

5/

Outside Westminster Magistrates' Court for Julian Assange's latest bail hearing.

Craig Murray, ex-diplomat & whistleblower, says he's "very optimistic" Assange will be granted bail because no one who has had their extradition blocked on medical grounds has had the decision reversed upon appeal, so there's no incentive to abscond.

via @SputnikInt

Assange's fiancée @StellaMoris1 & @khrafnsson & @SwaziJAF of WikiLeaks are being temporarily prevented from entering court building. It's unclear why. It could simply be because they've temporarily blocked people from entering for the Assange case and are allowing others through.

Press still not being allowed in. Poorly managed situation. I can't risk not being allowed into the video link room while I wait to get into the building. I've had to go around the corner and sit on some steps outside and follow via video link. Luckily I've got my WIFI broadcast.

Hearing hasn't started yet. Hands freezing cold. Can hear lawyers speaking to each other.

Proud Boys leader arrested for allegedly burning Black Lives Matter banner at DC church

According to DC Metro Police PIO Officer Sean Hickman:

In the past, Proud Boys have been enthusiastically supportive of the police in cities where they rallied and engaged in street violence.

In recent weeks, that has changed.

This was entirely predictable, and it's been frustrating that police have been so slow to realize that these extremists are not their friends.

Earlier this week in Oregon.

Police clash with Trump-supporting Proud Boys in Salem, Oregon, arrests made

I witnessed a really powerful moment today in court. A judge read the harrowing words of a junior doctor to a man who had been on a mass protest against lockdown.

The truly brilliant District Judge Lynne Matthews was addressing a 53-year-old man who had marched against lockdown with 400 other Covid sceptics in Bristol.

Judge Matthews started the hearing by reading out an article she’d seen in the Times during her lunch break. It was written by a doctor on a high dependency ward. Here is some of what the judge read:

“The patients don’t ask many questions, mostly because they need to spend all of their energy breathing.

“I try to work out if one of my patients isn’t answering my questions because she is delirious, because she doesn’t speak English, or because she is depressed. I work out that it is probably the latter; her notes say that her husband died just before new year, from Covid.

1)When did it become a crime for The People to enter The People’s House?

The next question is: Who was it that actually broke laws?

2)Seems to me that the Elitists calling yesterday’s protestors “law breakers” had no problem calling those who burned and looted cities (including DC) in 2020 “peaceful” and “justified”... and protected them from prosecution.

3)
As it was with all those mayors and politicians in 2020, it’s only when they are directly confronted by the People they pissed off that they call for “law and order” and start making arrests.

4) We are now being told that the “why” doesn’t matter (though it did in Portland and elsewhere to excuse that violence).

5) An Election was rigged and the Vote, the actual, tangible thing that enshrines and documents the Consent of the Governed, which is the foundation of all laws and permissions to govern, has been nullified.

Quite a few people have asked why someone who acknowledges being male would want a legal document that says female.

The simple answer is I dont. This was not the reason I obtained a GRC.

I was not even aware that the document stated that until I received it.

1/?

I have been attacked by every direction for obtaining one including "trans" people who don't qualify.

As flawed as the GRC is it is the only system we have. I am not responsible for the fact it needs reform.

2/?

Of course I am biologically male. That will never change. That doesn't mean that in the eyes of society I am not perceived as having a GENDER of female. It doesn't mean I am not treated differently (often negatively) for rejecting masculinity.

3/?

Just because I acknowledge my biological sex doesn't mean I should be forced into a box that defines how a male should act.

I use male spaces not because I want to but because I know women can't tell the difference between a TS and an opportunist.

4/?

I do not want to be male. I desperately wish I wasn't every day but I dont deny biological reality. That doesn't mean I am no different to any other male. I cannot deny or reject my transsexualism.

It is in being transsexual that I gained understanding of womens issues.

5/?

Judge enters and proceedings commence.
#Assange

Now waiting for Julian Assange to be brought into court

Assange enters, gives his name and date of birth

Clair Dobbin, representing the US government rises to object to bail

Says Assange has previously "gone to extraordinary lengths to avoid extradition."

In the Old Bailey in Court 4 awaiting the judge to enter Court 3 where she will deliver her decision in the extradition case of Julian Assange.

Judge Baraitser is expected to start at 10am GMT

via @SputnikInt

Outside there is a gaggle of press along with supporters of Julian Assange and third party observers who were attempting to get in such as @rebecca_vincent and @deepa_driver.

I don't know if they got in.

Photos from outside the court via @EfPress

Assange has stood up and identified himself. Judge has entered the court.

Judge has started by saying that the protection against extradition for a "political offence" was removed from the Extradition Act 2003 so it doesn't apply even though it is in the Treaty, that is not the constitutionally relevant document she says.

The videos I shot last night got more attention that I expected. I’ll post more from earlier in the day now, and in chronological order

1:27pm: crowd is leaving the Washington Monument following the president’s address. They’re all headed towards the Capitol. Lots of street preachers and buskers, like this guy, among them

2:02pm: I passed by these on Constitution Ave. Someone went to the trouble of printing actual fake news and left bundles on the street free for people to read

2:09pm: lots to see on Constitution Ave. someone pushing a shopping cart full of flags, including a Confederate battle flag, followed by someone cosplaying as Beetlejuice

2:20pm: these were just some of the many, many people flying South Vietnamese flags on the way to the Capitol. Led by a Trump impersonator

Julian Assange Bail Hearing is about to begin... will post below, the thread.