The possibility that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange could be extradited to the United States appeared closer on Tuesday, after American officials sent assurances to British authorities that he would not face trial. the death penalty or be persecuted because of his nationality, and that he would not face the death penalty or be persecuted because of his nationality. may seek First Amendment protections.
The assurances are the latest step in the long-running legal battle over the extradition of Mr. Assange, who has been indicted by the United States for violating the Espionage Act by publishing classified documents. They came later a comment made by President Biden last week that the authorities were considering a request from Mr. Assange's native Australia that he be allowed to return there, causing speculation that the US may be reconsidering the incident.
But the implementation of commitments requested by a British court last month as part of a five-year fight against Mr Assange's extradition to the US, suggesting US authorities may still be pursuing his removal.
Mr. Assange, 52, was the head of WikiLeaks in 2010 when the site published tens of thousands of secret military and diplomatic documents leaked by Chelsea Manning, a military intelligence analyst. He has been held in a high-security British prison since charges were filed in 2019. Before that, he spent years holed up at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London. Fees raises questions about First Amendment issuesand some see them as a threat to press freedom.
Mr. Assange's extradition was suspended by the court earlier this year awaiting assurance about his treatment if he is brought to the United States, as judges seek assurances that he will not be punished because of his nationality, that he will be able to seek protection under the First Amendment and that he would not face the death penalty.
In a letter to the British Foreign Office, the US Embassy in London said that Mr Assange, who is Australian, “will not be prejudiced by reason of his nationality”, and promised that, if extradited, he would will likely seek “rights and protections afforded by the First Amendment.” The embassy also noted that the death penalty would “not be sought or imposed” in his case.
After Mr. Biden's comments, Stella Assange, Mr. Assange's wife, said she was hopeful, but his extradition case had reached a critical moment. But she said on Tuesday that new assurances sent to the court did not allay concerns about how her husband would be treated.
She said in a statement: “The diplomatic note does nothing to alleviate our family's extreme sadness about his future – the grim expectation that he will have to live the rest of his life in poverty. isolated in a US prison for publishing award-winning journalism.” “The Biden administration must drop this dangerous prosecution before it is too late.”
In a ruling last month, British judges said there would be a hearing on May 20, after the assurances were given, to decide whether they were “satisfactory” and to issue Final decision on Mr. Assange's ability to appeal extradition.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of Australia has publicly spoken out about discussing Mr. Assange's case with Mr. Biden and urged him to consider releasing Mr. Assange. The US Department of Justice declined to comment on the latest assurances in Mr. Assange's case.
Charlie is savage Contributing reports from Washington.
