Julian Assange: US To Seek Arrest Of WikiLeaks Founder, CNN Reports

American officials have prepared charges against Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, and will seek his arrest, according to a report Thursday from CNN, which cited its sources as "US officials familiar with the matter."

Law enforcement officials have long been reticent about charging Assange and WikiLeaks because they believe the First Amendment likely protected their activities. Like WikiLeaks, many news agencies publish classified materials, and courts have long held that it is the leakers themselves, not the publishers, who are legally liable. However, CNN reports officials, "believe they have found a way to move forward." (For more information on this and other political stories, subscribe to the White House Patch for daily newsletters and breaking news alerts.)

Assange is currently avoiding arrest on rape charges in Sweden by living at the Ecuadorian embassy in London. It is not clear if the United States would have any more success persuading the Ecuadorian government, which is currently protecting Assange, to hand him over.

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