By DAILY MAIL REPORTER
Last updated at 7:04 PM on 17th December 2010
- Whistleblower fears case being cooked up against him in the U.S.
- He claims he had never heard of jailed U.S. soldier Bradley Manning
He was wearing a green puffer jacket rather than a Barbour and lacking the tweed jacket and flat cap, but Julian Assange nonetheless looked quite at home today outside a country mansion.
The WikiLeaks founder has been bailed to 600-acre Suffolk estate at Ellingham Hall - and appears to be enjoying the experience greatly.
He had an emotional reunion with his mother Christine there last night and today crunched a path through the snow to make his latest TV appearance.
Assange said he feared indictment on espionage charges by the United States but promised 'full speed ahead' on the release of classified information.
To the manor born: Julian Assange looks quite the part as he cradles his mug of tea for the latest round of interviews outside Ellingham Hall in Suffolk
Mother's support: Christine Assange flew in from Queenland to assist the bid to free Julian - but she will be flying home before Christmas
He also denied all knowledge of Bradley Manning, the soldier held in the U.S. accused of distributing thousands of government documents, and whose plight many championing the freedom of information have linked to Assange.
The U.S. government suspects that Manning released many of the 250,000 cables published by WikiLeaks - and a report in The Independent today claimed Americans were leaning on the private to build a case against Assange.
Supporters have claimed he is being held in torturous conditions 23 hours a day at a marine base in Virginia ever since disseminating a U.S. military video that showed an Apache helicopter attack in 2007 that killed 17 people in Iraq.
In an interview on ABC's Good Morning America, Assange said he had never even heard Manning's name until the press began reporting it, despite appearing in an earlier interview to come close to acknowledging he was one of WikiLeaks' sources.
He called him 'a young man somehow embroiled in our publishing activities.'
'We can see that he's the only person, only one of our military sources, who has been accused,' he said.
After the Good Morning America interview, Assange reported to the local police station at Beccles to meet his bail conditions.
He had arrived at 10-bedroom Ellingham Hall, owned by Captain Vaughan Smith, a former British Army officer and key supporter, after his release from Wandsworth Jail on a £240,000 surety.
Christine Assange, who travelled to London from her home in Australia to show her support, joined some of her son's supporters to celebrate his release from jail at the 10-bedroom estate.
Thumbs-up: Julian Assange gestures as he leaves Beccles Police station after reporting in as part of his bail conditions while he fights an extradition charge to Sweden
Mr Assange had champagne and a meal of stew and dumplings to mark the end of his nine-day incarceration at Wandsworth prison as he fights extradition to Sweden on sex assault allegations, which he denies.
His mother was one of a close coterie of followers and advisers invited to the country home after Mr Assange celebrated with martinis at Smith's Frontline Club in Paddington.
Mrs Assange, 59, said: 'It is good to have a break from the fight and enjoy the moment. The war is not over but this battle is. I want him to be healthy and happy and safe. I might tell him to get a bullet-proof vest.'
Smiling and hugging his mother, Mr Assange added: 'This is not the beginning of the end. It is the end of the beginning. It has not altered my position, in fact it has confirmed my position to me personally that we are on the right path.'
Restricted freedom: Julian Assange arrives (left) at Beccles Police Station in Suffolk this afternoon as part of his bail conditions. He left a few minutes later (right) surrounded by reporters
While promising to work faster now that he is back 'directing our ship' he must also fight Sweden's attempt to extradite him on allegations of rape and molestation
Assange insisted again that he was being subjected to a smear campaign and 'what appears to be a secret grand jury investigation against me or our organisation.'
Who? Julian Assange today denied knowing Private Bradley Manning, who is being held on suspicion of releasing classified information
He did not elaborate, but said he had retained an unnamed U.S. law firm to represent him.
Though the U.S. government continues to knock back suggestions from Republicans that he be hunted down, or at least charged with espionage, Assange expects more attempts to tarnish his name.
'The risk we have always been concerned about is onward extradition to the United States and that seems to be increasingly serious and increasingly likely,' he said.
He continued: 'I would say that there is a very aggressive investigation. A lot of face has been lost by some people, and some people have careers to make by pursuing famous cases.'
The Washington Post said today that say the prospect of U.S. prosecutors charging Assange with espionage would be improved if if they can show he helped Manning.
Assange will not have the company of his mother over Christmas, as she is due to fly back home to Queensland in Australia. He will instead be supported by a team of assistants — including two young, female journalism students.
Sarah Harrison, a recent City University graduate, was reported in The Times to have 'been in very close contact and organising his diary and washing his socks'.
Gavin MacFadyen, a visiting professor of journalism at the university, said Mr Assange was followed by his entourage to an undisclosed location two or three weeks ago following threats.
He added: 'There was a serious threat from various quarters and he did go off into the countryside with all of his assistants and volunteers. He’s one of the busiest men I know, if he has time to be involved in orgies and crazy behaviour I’d be very surprised.'
Conspiracy theorist: Mr Assange claimed certain institutions were 'engaged in what appears to be, certainly a secret investigation, but appears also to be an illegal investigation'
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