Julian Assange was NOT the first journalist to publish that information. It was first published by John Young on the Cryptome website. This makes the persecution of an innocent (but naive) Australian journalist even more outrageous. More here:Reference Assange Extradition Hearing:
2020-177.pdf Correction on Cryptome Publication of State Department Cables, September 25, 2020
2020-176.pdf John Young Cryptome Statement for Assange Extradition Hearing, September 24, 2020Date and time Cryptome downloaded and decrypted the unredacted State Department cables z.7z file.
Publically announced its availability that evening. Times are EDT.z.7z Decrypted Wikileaks Archive z.gpg File September 1, 2011 (368MB)
