Persecution if they do anything. He is not a US citizen, did not travel to the US, and did not commit a crime in the US. Manning should have been executed. But Assange’s receipt and sharing of data is, if the US has any jurisdiction, at best or worst covered by 1st amendment.
They’re not “officially” going after him for the obtaining or sharing of the data.
The charges stem from the government allegation that Assange colluded with his source on how to bypass US government security measures and hack our systems. That’s what they will be trying to prove, not that he received or shared the data afterwards.