The NYT maintained that Barr's "actions have thrust the Justice Department into the political fray at a time when Democrats and former law enforcement officials have expressed fears that he is politicizing the department, particularly by intervening in legal matters in ways that benefit Mr. Trump or his circle of friends and advisers."
The defense interpreted Barr's contention of executive authority's "right" to prosecute as it sees fit rather than consider what the constitution stipulates as bolstering its argument that this case is political. Yet the judge rejected this as a new piece of evidence.
Here is what Murray wrote, Day 12. He called the hearings, a "Charade Court Case":
"It has been clear to me from Day No. 1 that I am watching a charade unfold. It is not in the least a shock to me that Baraitser does not think anything beyond the written opening arguments has any effect"where rulings have to be made, she has brought them into court pre-written, before hearing the arguments before her. I strongly expect the final decision was made in this case even before opening arguments were received."
Could it be that conflict-of-interest "Lady" Arbuthnot has a hand in what Baraitser types on her laptop without needing to hear defense witnesses and attorneys?
Assange in Poor Health
Julian's health is debilitated by callous cruelty imposed upon him by the English state. His right to "humane treatment", which the court maintains he has, is a sham. He is rarely allowed to see his father, his fiance'e and children. When he can, he is forbidden to touch them. Mostly, he has to call them from a pay-phone. He must wait in his cell for his turn to make a short call. The phone is in a hallway and he can't be by other prisoners. Robinson, his long-time attorney, hasn't been allowed to see him for six months. Other lawyers are severely limited in how often they can see and talk with him. When attorney-client discussion is allowed, it is for an hour. Lawyers have to send him pertinent case documents through the postal service. Sometimes documents sent are not delivered to him, or he cannot keep those that are. He is denied a computer making it extra difficult to participate in his defense. Basically, he is already imprisoned under gothic conditions common in most US prisons.
Somehow, Assange had hidden a razor blade in his cell. The prosecution wanted to deny this fact, because medical personnel had failed to record it. Nevertheless, two wardens saw the blade and confiscated it. Assange admitted having it. At first, he was charged with a crime. Then the prison governor dropped the charges.
Defense witness, Michael Kopelman, a neuropsychologist, testified that Assange is so anxiety ridden that he is a suicide candidate. Kopelman testified that he had seen Assange 17 times in prison and was certain that he suffered from severe depression with loss of sleep, appetite and weight loss.
The magistrate backed up the prosecution's objection, contending that this expert opinion was not a factor since there were no longer any charges against Assange for having the razor blade.
If that reasoning wouldn't make a sane person mad nothing would. "Alice in Wonderland" is, after all, a British literary fantasy, and George Orwell's "double think" (double speak) is a British political phenomenon, one which did not become extinct in 1984.
Conditions under which Julian Assange is imprisoned have been investigated by the United Nations rapporteur on torture Nils Melzer. He and two medical specialists on torture conditions examined Assange in prison and concluded that he is a victim of "psychological torture," he said. (2)
The Convention on Torture-to which the U.S., UK, Sweden and Ecuador are parties persecuting and/or prosecuting Assange-requires that member countries conduct investigations into such charges by the UN rapporteur. They all refused to do so.
If Assange is extradited, experts on prison conditions in the U.S., focusing on the two where he would be held, first during a trial, and then where he would serve his sentence if convicted, testified that conditions are extremely debilitating to one's health. He would be subject to what the U.S. euphemistically calls Special Administrative Measures (SAM). Designated federal prisoners are confined behind steel doors and walls and can only speak with other prisoners by shouting through these barriers. SAM allows the government to monitor any and all contact with any visitors, including attorneys and doctors. Yet it has still been possible for some prisoners subjected to these brutal conditions to find means of taking their lives. Others have become clinically insane.
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