Assange Superseding Indictment
Assange Superseding Indictment
Assange Superseding Indictment
F'LED
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR tUB. court
SUPERSEDING INDICTMENT
GENERAL ALLEGATIONS
website he founded with others as an "intelligence agency of the people." To obtain information
to release on the WikiLeaks website, ASSANGE encouraged sources to (i) circumvent legal
safeguards on information; (ii) provide that protected information to WikiLeaks for public
dissemination; and (iii) continue the pattern of illegally procuring and providing protected
information that the United States classified due to the serious risk that unauthorized disclosure
could harm the national security of the United States. WikiLeaks's website explicitly solicited
censored, otherwise restricted, and until September 2010,^ "classified" materials. As the website
public disclosure. For example, in December 2009, ASSANGE and a WikiLeaks affiliate gave a
annual conference attended by the hacker community and others that is hosted by the Chaos
^ When the Grand Jury alleges in this Superseding Indictment that an event occurred on a
particular date, the Grand Jury means to convey that the event was alleged to occur "on or about"
that date.
^ One month later, the WikiLeaks website not only deleted the term "classified" from the list of
materials it would accept, but also included the following disclaimer: "WikiLeaks accepts a range
of material, but we do not solicit it."
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Computer Club (CCC), which its website purports is "Europe's largest association of hackers."
During that presentation, WikiLeaks described itselfas the"leading disclosure portal for classified,
information, the WikiLeaks website posted a detailed list of"The Most Wanted Leaks of 2009,"
organized by country,and stated that documents or materials nominated to the list must"[b]e likely
5. As of November 2009, WikiLeaks's "Most Wanted Leaks" for the United States
6. ASSANGE intended the "Most Wanted Leaks" list to encourage and cause
to WikiLeaks contrary to law. For example, in 2009, ASSANGE spoke at the "Hack in the Box
Security Conference" in Malaysia. ASSANGE referenced the conference's "capture the flag"
hacking contest and noted that WikiLeaks had its own list of "flags" that it wanted captured—
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namely,the list of"Most Wanted Leaks" posted on the WikiLeaks website. He encouraged people
to search for the list and for those with access to obtain and give to WikiLeaks information
disclosure by law, precisely because ofthe value ofthat information. Therefore, he predicated his
and WikiLeaks's success in part upon encouraging sources with access to such information to
violate legal obligations and provide that information for WikiLeaks to disclose.
in the United States Army who was deployed to Forward Operating Base Hammer in Iraq.
or negligent handling of classified information could cause irreparable injury to the United States
solicitation of classified information made through the WikiLeaks website. For example,
paragraphs 4-5, solicited CIA detainee interrogation videos. On November 28,2009, Manning in
turn searched the classified network search engine, "Intelink," for
"retention+of+interrogation+videos." The next day. Manning searched the classified network for
"detainee+abuse," which was consistent with the "Most Wanted Leaks" request for "Detainee
abuse photos withheld by the Obama administration" under WikiLeaks's "Military and
Intelligence" category.
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11. On November 30, 2009, Manning saved a text file entitled "wl-press.txt" to her
external hard drive and to an encrypted container on her computer. The file stated, "You can
currently contact our investigations editor directly in Iceland +354 862 3481; 24 hour service; ask
for 'Julian Assange.'" Similarly, on December 8, 2009, Manning ran several searches on Intelink
or"SOPs." These search terms were yet again consistent with WikiLeaks's"Most Wanted Leaks,"
which sought Guantanamo Bay operating and interrogation SOPs under the "Military and
Intelligence" category.
12. Between in or around January 2010 £md May 2010, consistent with WikiLeaks's
"Most Wanted Leaks" solicitation of bulk databases and military and intelligence categories.
Manning downloaded four nearly complete databases jfrom departments and agencies ofthe United
activity reports, 400,000 Iraq war-related significant activities reports, 800 Guantanamo Bay
detainee assessment briefs, and 250,000 U.S. Department of State cables. The United States had
classified many ofthese records up to the SECRET level pursuant to Executive Order No. 13526
or its predecessor orders. Manning nevertheless provided the documents to WikiLeaks, so that
13. Manning was arrested on or about May 27,2010. The"Most Wanted Leaks" posted
on the WikiLeaks website in May 2010 no longer contained the "Military and Intelligence"
category.
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14. During large portions of the same time period (between November 2009, when
Manning first became interested in WikiLeaks, through her arrest on or about May 27, 2010),
Manning was in direct contact with ASSANGE, who encouraged Manning to steal classified
documents from the United States and unlawfully disclose that information to WikiLeaks.
password hash stored on United States Department of Defense computers connected to the Secret
Internet Protocol Network,a United States government network used for classified documents and
communications, as designated according to Executive Order No. 13526 or its predecessor orders.
16. Manning, who had access to the computers in connection with her duties as an
intelligence analyst, was also using the computers to download classified records to transmit to
17. The portion ofthe password hash Manning gave to ASSANGE to crack was stored
as a "hash value" in a computer file that was accessible only by users with administrative-level
privileges. Manning did not have administrative-level privileges, and used special software,
namely a Linux operating system, to access the computer file and obtain the portion of the
password provided to ASSANGE.
18. Had Manning retrieved the full password hash and had ASSANGE and Manning
successfully cracked it. Manning may have been able to log onto computers imder a usemame that
did not belong to her. Such a measure would have made it more difficult for investigators to
19. Prior to the formation of the password-cracking agreement, Manning had already
provided WikiLeaks with hundreds ofthousands ofdocuments classified up to the SECRET level
that she downloaded from departments and agencies of the United States, including the
Afghanistan war-related significant activity reports and Iraq war-related significant activity
reports.
20. At the time he entered into this agreement, ASSANGE knew,understood, and fully
anticipated that Manning was taking and illegally providing WikiLeaks with classified records
containing national defense information ofthe United States that she was obtaining from classified
databases. ASSANGE was knowingly receiving such classified records from Manning for the
21. For example, on March 7, 2010, Manning asked ASSANGE how valuable the
Guantanamo Bay detainee assessment briefs would be. After confirming that ASSANGE thought
they had value, on March 8, 2010, Manning told ASSANGE that she was "throwing everything
[she had] on JTF GTMO [Joint Task Force, Guantanamo] at [Assange] now." ASSANGE
responded, "ok, great!" When Manning brought up the "osc," meaning the CIA Open Source
Center, ASSANGE replied, "that's something we want to mine entirely, btw," which was
consistent with WikiLeaks's list of "Most Wanted Leaks," described in paragraphs 4-5, that
solicited "the complete CIA Open Source Center analytical database," an unclassified (but non-
public) database. Manning later told ASSANGE in reference to the Guantanamo Bay detainee
assessment briefs that "after this upload, thats all i really have got left." In response to this
statement, which indicated that Manning had no more classified documents to unlawfully disclose,
ASSANGE replied, "curious eyes never run dry in my experience." ASSANGE intended his
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statement to encourage Manning to continue her theft of classified documents from the United
States and to continue the unlawful disclosure of those documents to ASSANGE and WikiLeaks.
Detainee Assessment briefs to a cloud drop box operated by WikiLeaks, with an X directory that
23. Two days later, ASSANGE told Manning that there was "a usemame in the gitmo
docs." Manning told ASSANGE,"any usemames should probably be filtered, period." Manning
asked ASSANGE whether there was "anything useful in there." ASSANGE responded, in part,
that "these sorts of things are always motivating to other sources too." ASSANGE stated,
"gitmo=bad,leakers=enemy of gitmo, leakers=good ... Hence the feeling is people can give us
stuff for anything not as 'dangerous as gitmo' on the one hand, and on the other, for people who
know more,there's a desire to eclipse." Manning replied,"true, ive crossed a lot ofthose 'danger'
zones, so im comfortable."
24. Following ASSANGE's "curious eyes never run dry" comment,on or about March
downloaded multiple Iraq rules of engagement files from her Secret Internet Protocol Network
computer and burned these files to a CD,and provided them to ASSANGE and WikiLeaks.
25. On April 5, 2010, WikiLeaks released on its website the rules of engagement files
that Manning provided. It entitled four of the documents as follows:"US Rules of Engagement
for Iraq; 2007 flowchart," "US Rules of Engagement for Iraq; Refcard 2007," "US Rules of
Engagement for Iraq, March 2007," and "US Rules of Engagement for Iraq, Nov 2006." All of
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these documents had been classified as SECRET, except for the "US Rules of Engagement for
Iraq; Refcard 2007," which was unclassified but for official use only.
26. The rules of engagement files delineated the circumstances and limitations under
which United States forces would initiate or continue combat engagement upon encountering other
forces. WikiLeaks's disclosure of this information would allow enemy forces in Iraq and
elsewhere to anticipate certain actions or responses by U.S. armed forces and to carry out more
effective attacks.
27. Further, following ASSANGE's "curious eyes never run dry" comment, and
consistent with WikiLeaks's solicitation of bulk databases and classified materials of diplomatic
significance, as described in paragraphs 2,4-5, between on or about March 28,2010, and April 9,
2010, Manning used a United States Department of Defense computer to download over 250,000
U.S. Department of State cables, which were classified up to the SECRET level. Manning
subsequently uploaded these cables to ASSANGE and WikiLeaks through an SFTP connection to
a cloud drop box operated by WikiLeaks, with an X directory that WikiLeaks had designated for
Marining's use. ASSANGE and WikiLeaks later disclosed them to the public.
28. At the time ASSANGE agreed to receive and received from Manning the classified
Guantanamo Bay detainee assessment briefs, the U.S. Department of State Cables, and the Iraq
rules of engagement files, ASSANGE knew that Manning had unlawfully obtained and disclosed
or would unlawfiilly disclose such documents. For example, not only had ASSANGE already
Manning,but Manning and ASSANGE also chatted about militaryjargon and references to current
events in Iraq, which showed that Manning was a government or military source; the
Manning as ASSANGE's source, such as clearing logs and use of a "cryptophone;" and a code
29. ASSANGE, Manning, and others shared the objective to further the mission of
WikiLeaks, as an "intelligence agency ofthe people," to subvert lawful measures imposed by the
United States government to safeguard and secure classified information, in order to disclose that
information to the public and inspire others with access to do the same.
30. Manning and ASSANGE discussed this shared philosophy. For example, when
Manning s£iid,"i told you before, government/organizations cant control information...the harder
they try, the more violently the information wants to get out," ASSANGE replied,"restrict supply
= value increases, yes." Further, when Manning said, "its like you're the first 'Intelligence
Agency' for the general public," ASSANGE replied, that is how the original WikiLeaks had
described itself.
31. Even after Manning's arrest on or about May 27, 2010, ASSANGE and others
endeavored to fulfill this mission of WikiLeaks to publish the classified documents that Manning
had disclosed by threatening to disclose additional information that would be even more damaging
to the United States and its allies if anything should happen to WikiLeaks or ASSANGE to prevent
dissemination.
32. On August 20, 2010, for instance, WikiLeaks tweeted that it had distributed an
encrypted "'insurance' file" to over 100,000 people and referred to the file and the people who
10
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33. ASSANGE spoke about the purpose ofthis"insurance file," stating that it contained
information that WikiLeaks intended to publish in the future but without "harm minimization,"
that is to say, without redactions of things, like names of confidential informants, that could put
lives at risk. When asked how these insurance files could be used to prevent "prior restraint and
other legal threats," ASSANGE responded that WikiLeaks routinely "distributed encrypted
backups of material we have yet to release. And that means all we have to do is release the
password to that material and it's instantly available. Now of course, we don't like to do that,
continued, the insurance file is a "precaution^ to make sure that sort of material [the data in
WikiLeaks's possession] is not going to disappear from history, regardless ofthe sort ofthreats to
this organization."
34. Similarly, on August 17, 2013, WikiLeaks posted on its Facebook account:
"WikiLeaks releases encrypted versions of upcoming publication data ('insurance') fi*om time to
time to nullify attempts at prior restraint." The post also provided links to previous insurance files
and asked readers to "please mirror" the links, meaning to post the links on other websites to help
F. ASSANGE Revealed the Names of Human Sources and Created a Grave and
Imminent Risk to Human Life.
35. Also following Manning's arrest, during 2010 and 2011, ASSANGE published via
the WikiLeaks website the documents classified up to the SECRET level that he had obtained
from Manning, as described in paragraphs 12, 21, and 27, including approximately 75,000
reports, 800 Guantanamo Bay detainee assessment briefs, £ind 250,000 U.S. Department of State
cables.
11
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36. The significant activity reports from the Afghanistan and Iraq wars that ASSANGE
published included names of local Afghans and Iraqis who had provided information to U.S. and
coalition forces. The State Department cables that WikiLeaks published included names of
persons throughout the world who provided information to the U.S. government in circumstances
in which they could reasonably expect that their identities would be kept confidential. These
sources included journalists, religious leaders, human rights advocates, and political dissidents
who were living in repressive regimes and reported to the United States the abuses of their own
government, and the political conditions within their countries, at great risk to their own safety.
By publishing these documents without redacting the human sources' names or other identifying
information, ASSANGE created a grave and imminent risk that the innocent people he named
37. On May 2, 2011, United States armed forces raided the compound of Osama bin
Laden in Abbottabad,Pakistan. During the raid, they collected a number ofitems of digital media,
which included the following: (1) a letter from bin Laden to another member of the terrorist
organization al-Qaeda in which bin Laden requested that the member gather the DoD material
posted to WikiLeaks, (2) a letter from that same member of al-Qaeda to Bin Laden with
information from the Afghanistan War Documents provided by Manning to WikiLeaks and
published that contained the unredacted names of human sources. These are not the only
documents that WikiLeaks published containing the names ofsources, nor the only documents that
put innocent people in grave danger simply because they provided information to the United States.
12
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39. The following are examples ofsignificant activity reports related to the Afghanistan
and Iraq wars that ASSANGE published without redacting the names ofhuman sources who were
named the local human source who reported the plaimed attack. Classified
b. Classified Document C2 was a 2009 threat report identifying a person who supplied
d. Classified Document D2 was a 2008 report that named a local person in Iraq who
had turned in weapons to coalition forces and had been threatened afterward.
40. The following are examples of State Department cables that ASSANGE published
without redacting the names of human sources who were vulnerable to retribution.
13
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located in Iran and indicated that the source's identity needed to be protected.
who regularly traveled to Iran and indicated that the source's identity needed to be
of information located in China and indicated that the source's identity needed to
information located in Syria and indicated that the sources' identities needed to be
information located in Syria and indicated that the source's identity needed to be
41. ASSANGE knew that his publication of Afghanistan and Iraq war-related
significant activity reports endangered sources, whom he named as having provided information
14
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disclosed by WikiLeaks"may face some threat as a result." But,in the same interview,ASSANGE
insisted that "we are not obligated to protect other people's sources, military sources or spy
organization sources, except from unjust retribution," adding that in general "there are numerous
cases where people sell information ... or frame others or are engaged in genuinely traitorous
behavior and actually that is something for the public to know about."
43. ASSANGE also knew that his publication of the State Department cables
endangered sources whom he named as having provided information to the State Department. In
a letter dated November 27,2010 from the State Department's legal adviser to ASSANGE and his
counsel, ASSANGE was informed, among other things, that publication of the State Department
cables would "[pjlace at risk the lives of countless innocent individuals—^from journalists to
human rights activists and bloggers to soldiers to individuals providing information to further
peace and security." Prior to his publication of the unredacted State Department cables,
ASSANGE claimed that he intended "to gradually roll [the cables] out in a safe way" by partnering
vrith mainstream media outlets and "reading through every single cable and redacting identities
accordingly." Nonetheless, while ASSANGE and WikiLeaks published some of the cables in
redacted form beginning in November 2010, they published over 250,000 cables in September
2011, in unredacted form,that is, without redacting the names ofthe human sources.
44. On July 30,2010,the New York Times published an article entitled "Taliban Study
WikiLeaks to Hunt Informants." The article stated that, after the release of the Afghanistan war
significant activity reports, a member of the Taliban contacted the New York Times and stated,
"We are studying the report. We knew about the spies and people who collaborate with U.S.
forces. We will investigate through our own secret service whether the people mentioned are really
15
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spies working for the U.S. If they are U.S. spies, then we know how to punish them." When
confronted about such reports, ASSANGE said,"The Taliban is not a coherent outfit, but we don't
say that it is absolutely impossible that anything we ever publish will ever result in harm—^we
45. Executive Order No. 13526 and its predecessor orders define the classification
levels assigned to classified information. Under the Executive Order, information may be
classified as "Secret" if its unauthorized disclosure reasonably could be expected to cause serious
damage to the national security, and information may be classified as "Confidential" if its
unauthorized disclosure reasonably could be expected to cause damage to the national security.
Further, under the Executive Order,classified information can generally only be disclosed to those
persons who have been granted an appropriate level of United States government security
clearance and possess a need to know the classified information in connection to their official
duties.
46. At no point was ASSANGE a citizen ofthe United States, nor did he hold a United
classified information.
16
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COUNT 1
A. The general allegations ofthis Superseding Indictment are re-alleged and incorporated
B. Between in or about November 2009 and continuing until at least September 2011,
in an offense begun and committed outside ofthe jurisdiction of any particular state or district of
the United States, the defendant, JULIAN PAUL ASSANGE, who will be first brought to the
Eastern District of Virginia, knowingly and unlawfully conspired with other co-conspirators,
known and unknown to the Grand Jury,to commit the following offenses against the United States:
1. To obtain documents, writings, and notes connected with the national defense,
assessment briefs related to detainees who were held at Guantanamo Bay, U.S. State
Department cables, and Iraq rules of engagement files classified up to the SECRET
level—^and with reason to believe that the information was to be used to the injury of the
United States or the advantage ofany foreign nation, in violation of Title 18, United States
2. To receive and obtain documents, writings, and notes connected with the
national defense—^namely, detainee assessment briefs related to detainees who were held
at Guantanamo Bay, U.S. State Department cables, Iraq rules of engagement files, and
information stored on the Secret Internet Protocol Network classified up to the SECRET
level—^for the purpose of obtaining information respecting the national defense, and
knowing and with reason to believe at the time such materials are obtained,they had been
and would be taken, obtained, and disposed of by a person contrary to the provisions of
17
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Chapter 37 of Title 18 of the United States Code, in violation of Title 18, United States
detainee assessment briefs related to detainees who were held at Guantanamo Bay, U.S.
State Department cables, Iraq rules of engagement files, and documents containing the
names of individuals in Afghanistan, Iraq, and elsewhere around the world, who risked
their safety and freedom by providing information to the United States and our allies, which
access to such documents,to persons not entitled to receive them,in violation of Title 18,
(i) for Manning to communicate to ASSANGE the detainee assessment briefs related to
detainees who were held at Guantanamo Bay,U.S. State Department cables, and Iraq rules
of engagement files classified up to the SECRET level, and (ii) for ASSANGE to
individuals in Afghanistan, Iraq, and elsewhere around the world, who risked their safety
and freedom by providing information to the United States and our allies to the public—
receive them in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 793(e).
C. In furtherance ofthe conspiracy, and to accomplish its objects, the defendant and his
conspirators committed overt acts including, but not limited to, those described in the General
18
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COUNT2
A. The general allegations ofthis Superseding Indictment are re-alleged and incorporated
B, Between in or about November 2009 and in or about May 2010, in an offense begun
and committed outside ofthe jurisdiction ofany particular state or district ofthe United States,the
defendant, JULIAN PAUL ASSANGB, who will be first brought to the Eastern District of
Virginia, and others unknown to the Grand Jury, knowingly and unlawfully obtained and aided,
abetted, counseled, induced, procured and willfully caused Manning to obtain documents,
writings, and notes connected with the national defense, for the purpose of obtaining information
level related to detainees who were held at Guantanamo Bay—^and with reason to believe that the
information was to be used to the injury ofthe United States or the advantage ofany foreign nation.
19
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COUNT3
A. The general allegations ofthis Superseding Indictment are re-alleged and incorporated
B. Between in or about November 2009 and in or about May 2010, in an offense begun
and committed outside ofthe jurisdiction ofany particular state or district ofthe United States, the
defendant, JULIAN PAUL ASSANGE, who will be first brought to the Eastern District of
Virginia, and others unknown to the Grand Jury, knowingly and unlawfully obtained and aided,
abetted, counseled, induced, procured and willfully caused Manning to obtain documents,
writings, and notes connected with the national defense, for the purpose of obtaining mformation
respecting the national defense—namely, U.S. Department of State cables classified up to the
SECRET level—and with reason to believe that the information was to be used to the injury of
(All in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 793(b) and 2)
20
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COUNT4
(Unauthorized Obtaining ofNational Defense Information)
(Iraq Rules of Engagement Files)
A. The general allegations ofthis Superseding Indictment are re-alleged and incorporated
B. Between in or about November 2009 and in or about May 2010, in an offense begun
and committed outside ofthe jurisdiction ofany particular state or district ofthe United States, the
defendant, JULIAN PAUL ASSANGE, who will be first brought to the Eastern District of
Virginia, and others unknown to the Grand Jury, knowingly and unlawfully obtained and aided,
abetted, counseled, induced, procured and willfully caused Manning to obtain documents,
writings, and notes connected with the national defense, for the purpose of obtaining information
respecting the national defense—^namely, Iraq rules of engagement files classified up to the
SECRET level—and with reason to believe that the information was to be used to the injury of
21
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COUNT 5
A. The general allegations ofthis Superseding Indictment are re-alleged and incorporated
B. Between in or about November 2009 and in or about May 2010, in an offense begun
and committed outside ofthe jurisdiction of any particular state or district ofthe United States,the
defendant, JULIAN PAUL ASSANGE, who will be first brought to the Eastern District of
Virginia, and others unknown to the Grand Jury, knowingly and unlawfully attempted to receive
and obtain documents, writings, and notes connected with the national defense—^namely,
information stored on the Secret Internet Protocol Network classified up to the SECRET level—
for the purpose of obtaining information respecting the national defense, knowing and having
reason to believe, at the time that he attempted to receive and obtain them, that such materials
22
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COUNT 6
A. The general allegations ofthis Superseding Indictment are re-alleged and incorporated
B. Between in or about November 2009 and in or about May 2010, in an offense begun
and committed outside ofthe jurisdiction ofany particular state or district ofthe United States,the
defendant, JULIAN PAUL ASSANGE, who will be first brought to the Eastern District of
Virginia, knowingly and unlawfully received and obtained documents, writings, and notes
connected with the national defense—^namely, detainee assessment briefs classified up to the
SECRET level related to detainees who were held at Guantanamo Bay—for the purpose of
obtaining information respecting the national defense, knowing and having reason to believe, at
the time that he received and obtained them,that such materials had been and would be obtained,
taken, made, and disposed of by a person contrary to the provisions of Chapter 37 of Title 18 of
23
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COUNT 7
A. The general allegations ofthis Superseding Indictment are re-alleged and incorporated
B. Between in or about November 2009 and in or about May 2010, in an offense begun
and committed outside ofthe jurisdiction ofany particular state or district ofthe United States, the
defendant, JULIAN PAUL ASSANGE, who will be first brought to the Eastern District of
Virginia, knowingly and unlawfully received and obtained documents, writings, and notes
connected with the national defense—^namely, U.S. Department of State cables classified up to the
SECRET level—^for the purpose of obtaining information respecting the national defense,
knowing and having reason to believe, at the time that he received and obtained them, that such
materials had been and would be obtained, taken, made, and disposed of by a person contrary to
24
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COUNT 8
A. The general allegations ofthis Superseding Indictment are re-alleged and incorporated
B. Between in or about November 2009 and in or about May 2010, in an offense begun
and committed outside ofthe jurisdiction ofany particular state or district ofthe United States, the
defendant, JULIAN PAUL ASSANGE, who will be first brought to the Eastern District of
Virginia, knowingly and unlawfully received and obtained documents, writings, and notes
connected with the national defense—^naniely, Iraq rules of engagement files classified up to the
SECRET level—^for the purpose of obtaining information respecting the national defense,
knowing and having reason to believe, at the time that he received and obtained them, that such
materials had been and would be obtained, taken, made, and disposed of by a person contrary to
(All in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 793(c) and 2)
25
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COUNT9
A. The general allegations ofthis Superseding Indictment are re-alleged and incorporated
B. Between in or about November 2009 and in or about May 2010, in an offense begun
and committed outside ofthe jurisdiction ofany particular state or district ofthe United States, the
defendant, JULIAN PAUL ASSANGE, who will be first brought to the Eastern District of
Virginia, and others unknown to the Grand Jury, aided, abetted, coxmseled,induced, procured and
willfully caused Manning, who had lawful possession of, access to, and control over documents
relating to the national defense—^namely, detainee assessment briefs classified up to the SECRET
level related to detainees who were held at Guantanamo Bay—^to communicate, deliver, and
(All in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 793(d) and 2)
26
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COUNT 10
(Unauthorized Disclosure of National Defense Information)
(State Department Cables)
A. The general allegations ofthis Superseding Indictment are re-alleged and incorporated
B. Between in or about November 2009 and in or about May 2010, in an offense begun
and committed outside ofthe jurisdiction ofany particular state or district ofthe United States,the
defendant, JULIAN PAUL ASSANGE, who will be first brought to the Eeistem District of
Virginia, and others unknown to the Grand Jury, aided, abetted, counseled,induced, procured and
willfully caused Manning, who had lawful possession of, access to, and control over documents
relating to the national defense—^namely, U.S. Department of State cables classified up to the
SECRET level—^to communicate, deliver, and transmit the documents to ASSANGE, a person
27
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COUNT 11
A. The general allegations ofthis Superseding Indictment are re-alleged and incorporated
B. Between in or about November 2009 and in or about May 2010, in an offense begun
and committed outside ofthe jurisdiction ofany particular state or district ofthe United States,the
defendant, JULIAN PAUL ASSANGE, who will be first brought to the Eastern District of
Virginia, and others unknown to the Grand Jury, aided, abetted, counseled,induced, procured and
willfully caused Manning, who had lawful possession of, access to, and control over documents
relating to the national defense—^namely, Iraq rules of engagement files classified up to the
SECRET level—^to communicate, deliver, and transmit the documents to ASSANGE, a person
28
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COUNT 12
A. The general allegations ofthis Superseding Indictment are re-alleged and incorporated
B. Between in or about November 2009 and in or about May 2010, in an offense begun
and committed outside ofthe jurisdiction ofany particular state or district ofthe United States, the
defendant, JULIAN PAUL ASSANGE, who will be first brought to the Eastern District of
Virginia, and others unknown to the Grand Jury, aided, abetted, counseled,induced, procured and
willfully caused Manning, who had unauthorized possession of, access to, and control over
the SECRET level related to detainees who were held at Guantanamo Bay—^to communicate,
deliver, and transmit the documents to ASSANGE,a person not entitled to receive them.
(All in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 793(e) and 2)
29
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COUNT 13
A. The general allegations ofthis Superseding Indictment are re-alleged and incorporated
B. Between in or about November 2009 and in or about May 2010, in an offense begun
and committed outside ofthe jurisdiction ofany particular state or district ofthe United States,the
defend^t, JULIAN PAUL ASSANGE, who will be first brought to the Eastern District of
Virginia, and others unknown to the Grand Jury, aided, abetted, counseled,induced, procured and
willfully caused Manning, who had unauthorized possession of, access to, and control over
documents relating to the national defense—^namely, U.S. Department of State cables classified
up to the SECRET level—^to communicate, deliver, and transmit the documents to ASSANGE,a
(All in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 793(e) and 2)
30
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COUNT 14
A. The general allegations ofthis Superseding Indictment are re-alleged and incorporated
B. Between in or about November 2009 and in or about May 2010, in an offense begun
and committed outside ofthe jurisdiction ofany particular state or district ofthe United States, the
defendant, JULIAN PAUL ASSANGE, who will be first brought to the Eastern District of
Virginia, and others unknown to the Grand Jury, aided, abetted, counseled,induced, procured and
willfully caused Manning, who had unauthorized possession of, access to, and control over
documents relating to the national defense—^namely, Iraq rules of engagement files classified up
to the SECRET level—^to communicate, deliver, and transmit the documents to ASSANGE, a
(All in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 793(e) and 2)
31
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COUNT 15
B. From in or about July 2010 and continuing until at least the time ofthis Superseding
Indictment, in an offense begun and committed outside of the jurisdiction of any particular state
or district of the United States, the defendant, JULIAN PAUL ASSANGE, who will be first
brought to the Eastern District of Virginia, having unauthorized possession of, access to, and
control over documents relating to the national defense, willfully and unlawfully caused and
attempted to cause such materials to be communicated, delivered, and transmitted to persons not
significant activity reports, classified up to the SECRET level, from the Afghanistan war
containing the names ofindividuals, who risked their safety and freedom by providing information
to the United States and our allies, communicated the documents containing names of those
32
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COUNT 16
incorporated into this Count £is though fully set forth herein.
B. From in or about July 2010 and continuing until at least the time ofthis Superseding
Indictment, in an offense begun and committed outside of the jurisdiction of any particular state
or district of the United States, the defendant, JULIAN PAUL ASSANGE, who will be first
brought to the Eastern District of Virginia, having unauthorized possession of, access to, and
control over documents relating to the national defense, willfully and unlawfully caused and
attempted to cause such materials to be communicated, delivered, and transmitted to persons not
significant activity reports, classified up to the SECRET level, from the Iraq war containing the
names ofindividuals, who risked their safety and freedom by providing information to the United
States and our allies, communicated the documents containing names of those sources to all the
33
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COUNT 17
B. From in or about July 2010 and continuing until at least the time ofthis Superseding
Indictment, in an offense begun and committed outside of the jurisdiction of any particular state
or district of the United States, the defendant, JULIAN PAUL ASSANGE, who will be first
brought to the Eastern District of Virginia, having unauthorized possession of, access to, and
control over documents relating to the national defense, willfully and unlawfully caused and
attempted to cause such materials to be communicated, delivered, and transmitted to persons not
Department cables, classified up to the SECRET level, containing the names of individuals, who
risked their safety and freedom by providing information to the United States and our allies,
communicated the documents containing names of those sources to all the world by publishing
34
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COUNT 18
March 10, 2010, the exact date being unknown to the Grand Jury, in an offense begun and
committed outside of the jurisdiction of any particular State or district of the United States, the
defendant, JULIAN PAUL ASSANGE, who will be first brought to the Eastem District of
Virginia, did knowingly and unlawfully conspire with others known and unknown to the Grand
authorized access, to obtain information that has been determined by the United States
unauthorized disclosure for reasons of national defense and foreign relations, namely,
documents relating to the national defense classified up to the SECRET level, with reason
to believe that such information so obtained could be used to the injury ofthe United States
and the advantage of any foreign nation, and to willfully communicate, deliver, transmit,
and cause to be communicated, delivered, or transmitted the same, to any person not
entitled to receive it, and willfully retain the same and fail to deliver it to the officer or
authorized access,to obtain information from a department and agency ofthe United States
35
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in furtherance of a criminal act in violation of the laws of the United States, that is, a
violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 641,793(c), and 793(e).
The primary purpose ofthe conspiracy was to facilitate Manning's acquisition and
transmission of classified information related to the national defense of the United States so that
ASSANGE and his conspirators used the following ways, manners and means, among
1. It was part ofthe conspiracy that ASSANGE and Manning used the "Jabber" online
chat service to collaborate on the acquisition and dissemination of the classified records, and to
enter into the agreement to crack the password hash stored on United States Department ofDefense
2. It was part of the conspiracy that ASSANGE and Manning took measures to
conceal Manning as the source of the disclosure of classified records to WikiLeaks, including by
removing usemames from the disclosed information and deleting chat logs between ASSANGE
and Manning.
information and records from departments and agencies ofthe United States.
4. It was part ofthe conspiracy that ASSANGE and Manning used a special folder on
a cloud drop box of WikiLeaks to transmit classified records containing information related to the
36
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In order to furliier the goals and pmposes of the conspiracy, ASSANGE and his
conspirators committed overt acts, including, but not limited to,the following:
allow Manning to access a United States Department ofDefense computer file that was accessible
ordy to users with administrative-level privileges.
2. Onpf about March 8,2010,Manning provided ASSANGE with part ofa password
hash stored on United States Department of Defense compiiters connected to the Secret Internet
I
Protocol Network.
Manning related to the password hash. ASSANGE indicated that he had been trjdng to crack the
password hash by stating that he had "no luck so far."
(All in violation ofTitle 18, United States Code, Sections 371,1030(a)(1), 1030(a)(2),
1030(c)(2)(B)(ii).)
Wrt i^i' Act,
«|kr aeBkpliw Oj1 tee.
G.Zachary.Terwilliger
Urdted States-AttO]
By:
racy Doherty-McCormick
First Assistant United States Attomey
Kellen S. Dwyer .
Thomas W.Traxler
Gordon Kromberg
Assistant United States Attorneys
Matthew W^czewski
Nicholas Hunter
Trial-Attorneys, National Security Division
U.S. Department of Justice
37