One Idea: List WikiLeaks as Terrorist Group

Rep. Peter King says the group represents 'clear and present danger'
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted Nov 29, 2010 11:23 AM CST
One Idea: List WikiLeaks as Terrorist Group
Rep. Peter King, R-NY, is seen at a news conference about the proposed move of Guantanamo Bay prisoners to the Thomson Correctional Center in Thomson, Ill., in Washington, Dec. 15, 2009.   (AP Photo/Harry Hamburg)

The US government has made no secret of the fact that it is not a WikiLeaks fan—but might it take the step of declaring the site a terrorist organization? One Republican representative has asked Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to consider doing just that. "WikiLeaks appears to meet the legal criteria" of a terrorist organization as defined by the US, Rep. Peter King writes in a letter to Clinton obtained by CNET. He continues, "WikiLeaks presents a clear and present danger to the national security of the United States."

The request comes on the heels of WikiLeaks' latest document dump (click here for the latest on that), which Der Spiegel called "nothing short of a political meltdown for US foreign policy." King also asked Attorney General Eric Holder to "criminally charge WikiLeaks activist Julian Assange under the Espionage Act." If WikiLeaks is added to the terror list, US banks would be unable to process payments to it; anyone providing "material support or resources" to the site would be subject to felony charges; and options for web hosting would be limited.
(More WikiLeaks stories.)

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