Organization that published hacked DNC and Podesta emails obtained by Russian GRU hackers during the 2016 election
Background
WikiLeaks is a non-profit media organization founded by Julian Assange in 2006, specializing in publishing classified and confidential documents from anonymous sources. During the 2016 U.S. election, WikiLeaks published thousands of emails stolen by the Russian GRU from the Democratic National Committee and from Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta, coordinating the releases for political impact. Mueller’s report documented contacts between Roger Stone and persons associated with WikiLeaks during this period. Assange pleaded guilty in June 2024 to a single felony charge of conspiring to obtain and disclose national defense information, under a plea agreement that allowed him to return to Australia. WikiLeaks announced it would cease publishing after Assange’s plea.