If Assange showed any interest in also undermining Russia or other authoritarian regimes I would feel more compassion. I think criticization of the US foreign policy is fine and the press has a role. To me his case has always been grey. States have secrets its just the nature of the world.

This has the same energy as labelling any critique of Israel anti-semitic

When Russia enables it, amplifies it, builds their disinformation and propaganda machine around those facts and there’s no counter weight it gets into the realm of anti-democratic adjacent.

There’s nothing simple when it comes to international politics. But foreign meddling by an adversary is a pretty bright line.

No one said Clinton is democracy that title goes to the dear leader Kim Jong-un.

That however does not mean you are the good guy for playing into the hands of an adversary that wanted to rig a democratic election.