WikiLeaks Reward Fuels DNC Staffer Conspiracy
Julian Assange appeared to suggest Seth Rich, who was shot dead outside his home, was behind the Democratic email hack.
Wednesday 10 August 2016 13:47, UK
Image: Seth Rich was shot twice in the back outside his home in Washington DC
WikiLeaks has offered a $20,000 (£15,000) reward for information about the murder of a Democratic National Committee (DNC) staffer.
The reward fuels speculation Seth Rich, 27, was behind a major email leak which embarrassed the party.
Mr Rich was shot twice in the back outside his home in Bloomingdale, Washington DC, on 10 July in what police believe was an attempted robbery.
ANNOUNCE: WikiLeaks has decided to issue a US$20k reward for information leading to conviction for the murder of DNC staffer Seth Rich.
— WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) August 9, 2016
He had worked for the DNC for two years as director of voter expansion and his parents have denied the social media speculation that he had any involvement in the publication of 20,000 emails on 22 July.
Those emails revealed a party-led effort to undermine Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders' presidential campaign and subsequently lead to the resignation of then-DNC chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz.
Mr Rich's father, Joel Rich, said he hoped the reward "helps find out who did this".
But speaking to the Washington Post, he added: "I don't want to play WikiLeaks' game."
US Capitol riots: Police break silence on 'brutal, medieval style combat'
NRA: US gun advocacy group files for bankruptcy
COVID-19: Joe Biden unveils $1.9trn plan to help US fight coronavirus
Dr Dre 'safe and looking good' after hospital stay, says Ice T
Joe Biden inauguration: FBI identifies more than 200 suspects threatening ceremony
New York bus crash: Nine injured after vehicle plunges 49ft off bridge and into underpass
Democratic Email Hack Explained
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange said he would not confirm or deny whether Mr Rich was a source for his organisation.
"We treat threats towards any suspected WikiLeaks sources with extreme gravity," he said.
"This should not be taken to imply that Seth Rich was a source to WikiLeaks or that his murder is connected to our publications.
"We hope our efforts will contribute to the family's calls for information and to the separate reward issued by police."
Image: Julian Assange refused to confirm if Mr Rich was a source for WikiLeaks
But he appeared to suggest Mr Rich was the source of the leaks in an interview with Dutch TV show Nieuwsuur.
"Whistleblowers often take very significant efforts to bring us material and often at very significant risks," he said.
"There's a 27-year-old who works for the DNC who was shot in the back, murdered, just a few weeks ago, for unknown reasons as he was walking down the streets in Washington."
Image: Debbie Wasserman Schultz resigned as DNC chairwoman after the email leak
Washington DC Assistant Police Chief Peter Newsham said there was no information to suggest a connection between Mr Rich's killing and the WikiLeaks data.
Other theories have claimed the Russian government was involved in the DNC leak.
Nothing was taken during the alleged robbery. Police have offered a $25,000 reward for information leading to a conviction.