Assange: 'CIA spied on my family'

The US has long promoted itself as a beacon of democracy and free speech. However, when WikiLeaks exposed US crimes, such as k*lling civilians, mass surveillance and compromising internet security, the United States spent years trying to extradite WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange on espionage charges, even though he's not a US citizen.

The 53-year-old Australian citizen spent more than five years in Belmarsh Prison in London after taking refuge for almost seven years in the Ecuadorian embassy in London.

After pleading guilty in June to one count of breaching the US Espionage Act in a court in the US colony of Northern Mariana Islands, he returned to Australia.

In this 1 October video from his first public appearance, Assange explained the CIA sought retribution for the embarrassing leaks. Tactics included hacking, theft, assassination plans and spying on Assange's family, including trying to obtain DNA samples from his 6-month-old son's diaper.

If not for Wikileaks, Africans wouldn't have known about the US spying on African leaders at the UN or how a complex financial operation looted Kenya of a reported $1.4 billion benefitting several foreign firms while President Daniel arap Moi (1924-2020) was president between 1978-2002.

Have a watch, and let us know what you think.