Posted on 04/20/2022 10:08:23 AM PDT by bitt
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is one step closer to facing espionage charges in the US after a British judge formally approved his extradition.
The case will go to Britain’s interior minister for a decision, and Assange, 50, still has legal avenues of appeal.
A judge at London’s Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday issued the extradition order in a brief hearing, as Assange watched by video link from Belmarsh Prison. He stated his full name and date of birth.
It is up to Home Secretary Priti Patel to decide whether to grant the extradition.
The order comes after the UK Supreme Court last month refused Assange permission to appeal against a lower court’s ruling that he could be extradited.
The move doesn’t exhaust the legal options for Assange, who has sought for years to avoid a trial in the US on 17 charges of espionage and one charge of computer misuse related to WikiLeaks’ publication of a massive trove of classified documents more than a decade ago.
His lawyers have four weeks to make submissions to Patel, and can also seek to appeal to the High Court.
Assange lawyer Mark Summers told the court that the legal team had “serious submissions” to make.
American prosecutors say Assange unlawfully helped US Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning steal 500,000 classified diplomatic cables and military files that WikiLeaks later published, putting lives at risk.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
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This is the time to release everything, Assange
Trump should have pardoned him.
Assange should be freed
But but what about Joe and Hunter?.
Yet, Bradley Manning is free and lauded by the Left for hacking off his weewee
Should have been pardoned. But hey at least Charles Kushner got pardoned.
Like Obama did with his partner? Maybe Biden will pardon this enemy of the United States?
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.
How’s he an enemy of the United States ?
I’d like to know that as well.
Assange was not a spy. He published information given him by another.
He has suffered enough and should be released. The enemy of the US is also the President and his whole administration.
His son is the spy and he gets off scott free.
I am, overall, not a rabid fan of Assange like some, but if the Left wants him burned at the stake, I will not agree to supply the combustible products to enable them.
I have reached the point where, generally, if THEY are for it, I am against it.
I was disappointed when Trump didn’t do it though I have read that republicans in congress told him they’d support impeachment if he did it.
That’s how I feel about this.
Epstreins cell awaits.
As well as the predictable faulty cameras and sleeping guards.
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