WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has criticized the conviction of US Army Private Bradley Manning. Speaking from the Ecuadorian embassy in London, he said the verdict represented dangerous national security extremism.

Assange said, "This is the first ever espionage conviction against a whistleblower in the United States. It is a dangerous precedent and an example of national security extremism. It is a short-sighted judgement that cannot be tolerated and it must be reversed. It is important that this precedent of charging journalistic sources with espionage not be permitted to stand. It is a serious precedent, it is a serious abuse and it will mean the end of national security journalism in the United States as we know it if it is left to stand."