Michael Ratner’s Death Is a Loss for Freedom, Peace and Justice

Marjorie Cohn / Truthdig May 16, 2016 The human rights lawyer “knew that when you sue the powerful, you will often lose,” The Nation wrote. “But he also understood that such suits could prompt political action, and that … was often more important in achieving justice than the litigation itself.” Dig deeper ( 5 Min. Read )

From the Archives: Michael Ratner on American Imperialism

Staff / Truthdig May 13, 2016 The lawyer and human rights crusader, who died Wednesday, spoke on Truthdig Radio in 2013. To honor Ratner, we are reposting the audio of that interview. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Michael Ratner, Pioneering Civil Rights and Constitutional Lawyer, Dies at 72

By Steven Rosenfeld / AlterNet May 12, 2016 Ratner, who led the charge against excesses in the war on terror, died of complications of cancer Wednesday. Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )

Is WikiLeaks Founder Julian Assange Close to Freedom?

Alexander Reed Kelly / Truthdig Mar 16, 2015 Monday marks the 1,000th day WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has spent in political asylum inside Ecuador’s embassy in London, fearing extradition to the United States. On “Democracy Now!" his attorney Michael Ratner (pictured here) discusses whether Swedish prosecutors could be giving Assange a way out. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Document Dump: Efforts to Track WikiLeaks Supporters Revealed

Alexander Reed Kelly / Truthdig Feb 22, 2014 Julian Assange's attorney comments on documents reported about on Glenn Greenwald's new investigative site showing that U.S. officials sought to get governments worldwide to agree to prosecute Assange, that the British intelligence agency has a program to identify computers used to search for the whistle-blowing publisher WikiLeaks, and more. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Nobel Peace Prize Winner Calls Julian Assange’s De Facto Detention ‘Intolerable’

Peter Z. Scheer / Truthdig Nov 13, 2013 Mairead Maguire, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1976 for her work in Northern Ireland, has visited Julian Assange and written a condemnation of his asylum -- which is effectively a house arrest -- for the "crime of being a journalist who told the truth." Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

WikiLeaks Lawyer on American Imperialism

Staff / Truthdig Sep 20, 2013 This week on Truthdig Radio in association with KPFK: Julian Assange's attorney, Michael Ratner, has a front seat to history. Also: Is this the golden age of the black quarterback? And a feminist explains why women can love Eminem. Plus: Robert Scheer on the pope. Dig deeper

Syria Fact Check

Staff / Truthdig Sep 6, 2013 This week on Truthdig Radio in association with KPFK: Juan Cole pokes holes in the case for bombing Syria; WikiLeaks lawyer Michael Ratner; "ghetto tracker"; and Exxon's gay shame. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Assange: Stratfor Hacker Jeremy Hammond’s Guilty Plea Part of ‘Crackdown’

Alexander Reed Kelly / Truthdig May 30, 2013 Julian Assange told "Democracy Now!" on Wednesday that the Pentagon and the Obama administration are going after "bright young men, determined, courageous and moral," like Jeremy Hammond, who pleaded guilty this week to hacking private intelligence firm Stratfor, the FBI and other institutions. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Assange Lawyer to U.S. and Britain: ‘Back Off’

Alexander Reed Kelly / Truthdig Aug 16, 2012 Michael Ratner, legal adviser to Julian Assange and WikiLeaks, applauds Ecuador for standing up to two of the world’s most powerful countries, the United States and the United Kingdom, and says those countries will break international law under the U.N. Refugee Convention if they prevent Assange from accepting asylum in Ecuador. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Truthdigger of the Week: Julian Assange

Staff / Truthdig Jun 23, 2012 Few people have so fully devoted their lives to exposing abuses of power as WikiLeaks' founder Julian Assange . Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Leaked Email Suggests Secret Indictment of WikiLeaks Founder

Staff / Truthdig Mar 1, 2012 Internal emails disclosed by Anonymous and WikiLeaks suggest that Stratfor, a private intelligence firm working with the U.S. Justice Department, has information about a confidential “sealed indictment” for the arraignment of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. Internal emails disclosed by Anonymous and WikiLeaks suggest that Stratfor, a private intelligence firm, has information about a “sealed indictment” for the arraignment of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )