A British judge has dismissed the most recent appeal by WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange against his extradition to the US, where he faces 17 espionage charges and one computer misuse charge. These charges stem from WikiLeaks’ publication of confidential diplomatic and military documents more than ten years ago.
As reported by the Associated Press, Justice Jonathan Swift of the High Court said that a fresh appeal would only reiterate arguments previously made and dismissed by Assange’s legal team. Assange has been contesting his extradition in British courts for several years, initially succeeding in 2021 when a district judge ruled he should not be extradited due to the risk of suicide given the harshness of the US prison system.
However, after US authorities assured that Assange would not be exposed to extreme conditions that might endanger his physical and mental health, the ruling was overturned by Britain’s High and Supreme Courts.
Assange attempted to postpone his extradition by requesting a new court hearing to address dismissed parts of his case. But Justice Swift stated on Friday that all eight segments of Assange’s proposed appeal were non-viable and shouldn’t be reheard, describing the proposed appeal as merely a reiteration of the rejected arguments.
Stella Assange, Julian’s wife, revealed that another appeal attempt will be made at a High Court hearing on Tuesday. Although Julian’s appeal options in the UK are nearly depleted, he could potentially take his case to the European Court of Human Rights.
Assange and his supporters assert that his actions were in line with journalistic practices and should be protected under First Amendment rights. They argue that the case is politically motivated and Assange would not receive a fair trial in the US. Assange is currently detained at the high-security Belmarsh Prison in London, where he has been held since 2019 for breaching bail in a different legal case.
Information for this briefing was found via the Associated Press. The author has no securities or affiliations related to this organization. Not a recommendation to buy or sell. Always do additional research and consult a professional before purchasing a security. The author holds no licenses.
