Espionage Indictment Imminent for Assange, Lawyer Says

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange faces spying charges soon in the United States in connection with WikiLeaks' publication of more than 250,000 classified diplomatic cables, his attorney, Jennifer Robinson, told ABC News today. "Our position of course is that we don't believe it applies to Mr. Assange and that, in any event he's entitled to First Amendment protection as publisher of WikiLeaks and any prosecution under the Espionage Act would in my view be unconstitutional and puts at risk all media organizations in the U.S.," Robinson told ABC.

However, she said, a U.S. indictment of Assange is imminent. He is in custody in London on sexual assault charges originating from Sweden. His being held in solitary confinement restricts his access to a phone and lawyer, Robinson said.

Justice Department officials declined comment, although Attorney General Eric Holder has said that WikiLeaks' document drops have put the United States at risk and that he had authorized a criminal investigation.