‘I know nothing’ - Donald Trump changes his tune on WikiLeaks

President Donald Trump declared that “I kw thing about WikiLeaks” after its disheveled founder Julian Assange was hauled out of Ecuorian Embassy in London to face charges, a stark contrast to how candidate Trump showered praise on Assange’s hacking organization night after night during final weeks of 2016 presidential campaign.

Asked about Thursday’s, April 11, arrest, Trump said at White House, “It’s t my thing. I kw re is something having to do with Julian Assange. I’ve been seeing what’s happened with Assange and that will be a determination, I would imagine, mostly by attorney general, who’s doing an excellent job. So, he’ll be making a determination . I kw thing really about him.”

“It’s t my deal in life.”

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But WikiLeaks was Trump’s deal in 2016 as he welcomed political boost his campaign got and cheered on release of Clinton campaign emails.

On same October day that “Access Hollywood” tape emerged, revealing that Trump h bragged in 2005 about groping women, WikiLeaks began releasing damaging emails from Hillary Clinton’s campaign manr, John Podesta. Trump and his allies, facing a tough battle in campaign’s final month, seized on illegal dumps and weaponized m.

“WikiLeaks, I love WikiLeaks,” Trump said in Pennsylvania.

“This WikiLeaks is like a treasure trove,” Trump said in Michigan.

“Boy, I love reing WikiLeaks,” Trump said in Ohio.

All told, Trump extolled WikiLeaks more than 100 times, and a poster of Assange hung backst at Republican’s debate war room. At point from a rally st did Trump express any misgivings about how WikiLeaks obtained emails from Clinton campaign or about accusations of stealing sensitive U.S. government information, which led to charges against Assange on Thursday.

Assange for years has been under U.S. Justice Department scrutiny for WikiLeaks’ role in publishing thousands of government secrets. He was an important figure in special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia probe, as investigators examined how WikiLeaks obtained emails that were stolen from Democratic groups.

When asked about Assange in 2017, Trump said he did t “support or unsupport” WikiLeaks’ move to release hacked emails and that he would t be involved in any decision for U.S. government to arrest Assange.

“I am t involved in that decision,” wher or t to arrest Assange, Trump told Associated Press n, “but if y want to do it, it’s OK with me.”

Justice Department w has charged Assange with taking part in a computer hacking conspiracy, accusing him of scheming with Chelsea Manning, a former Army intelligence analyst, to break a password for a classified government computer.

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single charge of computer intrusion conspiracy carries up to five years in prison, though Justice Department can d ditional charges depending on evidence it gars. Manning was ordered jailed last month for refusing to testify before a grand jury in Alexandria, Virginia, suggesting that prosecutors are still at work.

It was unclear why Assange charge, which was brought under seal last year, was me public at this time and why he was taken into custody w — weeks after Mueller’s investigation h concluded. ne of allegations in case relate to Russian election interference or WikiLeaks’ role in publishing emails stolen from Democrats by Russian intelligence operatives.

An indictment against 12 Russians last year described WikiLeaks’ role in publishing hacked emails in run-up to 2016 presidential election. Though indictment said WikiLeaks h worked to coordinate release of information, re was allegation that organization solicited hacking of Democratic email accounts or worked with Russians.

Assange’s arrest provoked passionate responses overseas, and from some who h expressed concern about whistleblower protections, but initial bipartisan reaction in Washington was relief.

“I’m gl to see wheels of justice are finally turning when it comes to Julian Assange,” tweeted Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., a Trump ally. “In my book, he has NEVER been a hero. His actions - releasing classified information - put our troops at risk and jeopardized lives of those who helped us in Iraq and Afghanistan.”

Assange’s lawyer has previously said he planned to fight any U.S. charges against him. Assange took refuge in Ecuorian Embassy in London in 2012 after he was released on bail in Britain while facing extrition to Sweden on sexual assault allegations that have since been dropped. British police said Assange h been arrested Thursday for breaching his bail conditions and in relation to U.S. arrest request.