Add to this that the Trump administration had the chance to pardon Assange, and there was a strong and impassioned campaign from his partner (of which he shares 2 children) putting the case forward, but instead they pardoned actual war criminals. So I'm not sure the Republican administration/voter base really cares that much for JA either. The military have to visibly protect their own so they can assure the next gifted killing-machine asset that they can indulge in what they joined up for.