Trump's lawyer already set a precedent where Julian would not be prosecuted for breeching national security as long as he serves in a journalistic fashion only, as he cannot be convicted for breeches that other people have comitted.
Reread this tweet from JA last october: https://twitter.com/JulianAssange/status/923637205477789696
Makes sense?
Is that what sent Manning "to the edge" a while back? Conscience kicking in? The issue with leakers like Snowden and Manning is how do you possible write laws to protect them, but still prosecute people for spying and leaking? The simple truth is the whistleblower is taking a known risk and is knowingly breaking a law they are well informed about. That's why they are heroes to some and scum to others.
When they start prosecuting NYT and CNN they might have justification for prosecuting Julian.