WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange appealed to the press Wednesday to defend him from prosecution for leaking thousands of US documents and secrets, claiming that publishers who advanced WikiLeaks’ data were likely to be targeted also. “We have seen these statements, that The New York Times is, you know, also being looked at in terms of whether they have engaged in what they call ‘conspiracy to commit espionage,'” he said.

In an interview during the Dylan Ratigan Show, being conducted by fill-in host Cenk Uygur, Assange also addressed the suggestion that he be considered a “high tech terrorist,” an expression used by both Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Vice President Joe Biden.

Assange rejected the idea, and instead claimed that terrorism was being conducted by Republicans, Democrats, and Fox News:

“So it’s clear that whoever the terrorists are here, it’s not us.

“But we see constant threats from people in the Re — you know, Republicans in the Senate trying to make a — a name for themselves, the people like Sarah Palin, top shock jocks on Fox and, unfortunately, some members, also, of the Democratic Party, calling for my assassination, calling for the illegal kidnapping of my staff.

“And — and just a few days ago, it was in Fox, that was the phrase that was used — illegal. He should be illegally murdered if necessary– assassinated by the law, if possible, if not, illegally.

“What sort of message does that send about the rule of law in the United States?

“That is conducting violence in order to achieve a political end — the elimination of this organization or the threat of violence to achieve a political end, the elimination of a publisher. And that is the definition of terrorism.”