Julian and John

I have mixed feelings, none of them particularly strong in any direction, about Julian Assange. He arouses very strong, partisan passions in others though.

We recorded back in January what Charlie called ''a love letter'' to Mr Assange from the BBC's world affairs editor John Simpson on BBC One's News at Ten. 

And, in another case of a BBC reporter 'not' hanging up his opinions at the door, John's tweets have been similarly lacking in impartiality. This, for example, is what he tweeted on May 26, 2019:

Alan Rusbridger, writing in defence of Julian Assange: 'Whenever you read about journalists harming national security, massive alarm bells should start ringing.' Absolutely right. Assange revealed uncomfortable truths about US policy & tactics, & the US wants to punish him for it.

And with today's developments, the BBC's world affairs editor John Simpson is back in action again, campaigning about it once more on Twitter:

After today’s judgement in the Julian Assange extradition case, journalists in many countries will be worried about the precedent it sets. No one who reveals secrets which the US wants to keep hidden can be certain of staying safe.

Will this erupt in another BBC report/'love letter' on News at Ten, if his bosses let him?