WikiLeaks To Award $100,000 To Anyone Disclosing ‘Secret Chapters’ Of Trans-Pacific Partnership Trade Deal

WikiLeaks Tuesday offered $100,000 to anyone who can disclose the details of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal. The offer comes as a reward for leaking “America’s most wanted secret.”

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange said the transparency clock had run out on the deal. The Australian journalist demanded no further secrecy as his country allowed its politicians to view the classified document. Australia, however, will only allow the politicians to have a look if they agree not to disclose anything for the next four years.

“No more excuses. Let’s open the TPP once and for all,” the Washington Post quoted Assange as saying in a statement. WikiLeaks is banking on its crowdfunding program to collect the $100,000 so it can pay it to whoever exposes the top secret deal.

When last checked, Prize for Understanding Good Government had $27,324.45 pledged by 157 people. WikiLeaks has published three chapters of the deal in the past few years.

The United States is negotiating the multitrillion-dollar international agreement with Australia, Canada, Mexico, Japan and others. The deal consists of 29 chapters.

Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren is arguably the strongest opponent of President Obama’s effort to finalize the deal. She said the agreement is being kept secret because the public would oppose it. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders argued people have the right to know if the agreement protects U.S. workers.

Elizabeth Ward, assistant secretary of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, informed Australian senators and MPs Monday they would be allowed to view the agreement if they signed a document swearing them to secrecy for four years.

Under the confidentiality agreement, Australian politicians will not be allowed to disclose any part of the negotiated text as it “may affect adversely TPP negotiations and Australia’s relations with other TPP partners,” the Guardian reported.