Former Harper Aide May Be Charged For Assange Assassination Comments

Tom Flanagan is probably regretting calling for the murder of Julian Assange on national TV.

As a university professor, Flanagan might be able to explain the difference between free speech and incitement to murder. For his sake, let’s hope he makes a convincing case to the Calgary police, who are expected to ask the Crown today whether his comments on the CBC’s Power and Politics merit criminal charges. Flanagan, who was Stephen Harper’s campaign manager in 2006, told the show’s host that he thought Assange “should be assassinated, actually. I think (U. S. President Barack) Obama should put out a contract.” Police say they’ve received numerous complaints about Flanagan’s statements, even though he’s since retracted them. A petition has been circulated at the University of Calgary calling for his censure.