US journalists, lawyers meeting with Assange sue CIA

US journalists and lawyers sued the CIA for espionage, claiming that their conversations with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange were monitored by the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

A group of journalists and lawyers in the US claimed that the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) was spying on them when they visited WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange while he was taking refuge in the London Embassy in Ecuador, and Mike Pompeo, former Director of the CIA and CIA. or sued, TRT Haber reports. 

In the lawsuit filed in the New York District Court in the USA, it was stated that the CIA under Pompeo's administration violated their privacy rights by spying on the US journalists and lawyers in question.

It was announced that the plaintiffs included journalists Charles Glass and John Goetz, and lawyers Margaret Kunstler and Deborah Hrbek, who represented Assange.

In the case file, it was alleged that journalists and lawyers were asked to hand over their electronic devices to Undercover Global SL, a private security company that was securing the embassy at the time before they visited Assange, which the company then copied and provided to the CIA under Pompeo.

"The United States Constitution protects U.S. citizens from excessive access by the U.S. government, even if the activities take place at a foreign embassy in a foreign country," said Richard Roth, the lead attorney representing the plaintiffs.
The CIA and the security company Undercover Global SL have not yet made a statement regarding the case.

There are 18 charges brought against Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, by the United States, including the accusation of espionage for WikiLeaks revealing secret US military records and diplomatic correspondence.

Assange, who took refuge in the British Embassy in Ecuador for 7 years, lost a legal battle that lasted for more than 10 years, and his extradition to the United States was approved by the British government.