Donald Trump’s WikiLeaks blind spot raises eyebrows
Trump's denial belies the praise he showered on the organisation during his presidential campaign
Washington — Donald Trump made no secret during the 2016 campaign that he appreciated WikiLeaks and founder Julian Assange for publishing thousands of hacked Democratic e-mails, many of them damaging to Hillary Clinton. “I love WikiLeaks,’’ he said more than once as the group posted e-mails stolen by Russian operatives from Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta’s Gmail account. Once Trump won the presidency, though, the praise gave way to condemnation by top administration officials. His CIA director branded WikiLeaks “a nonstate hostile intelligence service,” and his attorney-general vowed to see Assange arrested. By Thursday, that turnabout was complete as Assange was expelled from his long-time hideout in Ecuador’s embassy in London in response to a US extradition request and a criminal indictment. Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, “I know nothing about WikiLeaks — it’s not my thing.” That belies the praise he showered on the organisation during his presidential campaign...
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