Changes

A few days after the negotiations opened in mid-February, Waldman reached out to Democratic Sen. [[Mark Warner]]; Waldman wanted to see if the Senate Intelligence Committee wanted any contact with Assange to ask about Russia or other issues.

A few days after the negotiations opened in mid-February, Waldman reached out to Democratic Sen. [[Mark Warner]]; Waldman wanted to see if the Senate Intelligence Committee wanted any contact with Assange to ask about Russia or other issues.

Warner engaged with Waldman over encrypted text messages, Warner then reached out to [[FBI]] Director [[Jimmy the Weasel]] Comey. Although the response to Assange's offer to help was positive among other elements throughout the United States Government, Warner relayed Comey's response to Waldman: "stand down."

Warner engaged with Waldman over encrypted text messages, Warner then reached out to [[FBI]] Director [[Jimmy the Weasel]] Comey. Although the response to Assange's offer to help was positive among Department of Justice officials, Warner relayed Comey's response to Waldman: "stand down."

Waldman could not believe that Warner and Comey were sending a different message from the Department of Justice, so he went back to Laufman, who assured him the negotiations were still on. What Laufman said when he heard Waldman was told to "stand down" was, "That's B.S. You are not standing down and neither am I." The episode sowed distrust in Assange's camp.

Waldman could not believe that Warner and Comey were sending a different message from the Department of Justice, so he went back to Laufman, who assured him the negotiations were still on. What Laufman said when he heard Waldman was told to "stand down" was, "That's B.S. You are not standing down and neither am I." The episode sowed distrust in Assange's camp.