Christine Assange, the mother of persecuted Wikileaks publisher Julian Assange, endorsed Socialist Equality Party Congressional candidate Niles Niemuth in a Twitter post Wednesday.

Assange encouraged Wikileaks supporters in Michigan’s 12th district to vote for Niles due to his consistent defense of her son, who is currently confined to the Ecuadorian embassy.

“Candidate NILES NIEMUTH is running for Congress (Michigan's 12 District). He has consistently publicly defended journalist Julian Assange! Consider voting for an anti-corruption/pro Assange candidate! Check out @niles_niemuth!,” Christine Assange wrote.

Julian Assange has waged a courageous and principled fight against government secrecy and the crimes of the US military. He has been trapped for more than six years in the Ecuadorian embassy in London, facing the possibility of arrest and extradition to the US if he leaves. For six months, the government of Ecuador has blocked his ability to communicate with the outside world, and earlier this week it blocked all visitors.

Niles replied by thanking Christine Assange for her support and noted that the Socialist Equality Party has long defended Julian Assange and WikiLeaks from attacks and persecution.

She noted, “It takes compassion, principles & courage to publicly stand up for my son Julian against the #DeepState.”

The sister party of the SEP in Australia organized a protest in Sydney in June, which included journalist John Pilger, demanding his freedom and safe return to Australia.

Niles Niemuth is the Socialist Equality Party’s candidate for Congress in Michigan’s 12th Congressional District. Visit Niles2018.com for more information on the campaign.