Ecuador has confirmed that it cut off internet access to Julian Assange, the founder of the whistleblowing site WikiLeaks, stating it believed he was using it to interfere in the US presidential election. The move followed a raft of leaked emails published by WikiLeaks, including some from the Democratic National Committee (DNC) released just before the party’s convention in July, and more recently a cache of emails from the account of Hillary Clinton campaign adviser John Podesta. Assange’s internet access was cut off on Monday morning. Foreign Affairs Ec (@MFAEcuador) Official Communiqué | Ecuador respects the principle of non-intervention in the internal affairs of other states ➡️https://t.co/4F7R5Iktsd pic.twitter.com/5FtbLViMEoIt is not known who perpetrated the hacks that brought the emails to WikiLeaks. Assange has been encamped in the Ecuadorian embassy in London since being granted asylum in 2012.

Source: The Guardian October 18, 2016 23:28 UTC