The founder of WikiLeaks, the Australian Julian Assange, not only could not be extradited to the United States by Great Britain but by the North American government I would collect the costs against him, who could be sentenced to life in prison.
THE Australian pressure -hacker’s country of birth-, from human rights organizations, from his wife and lawyer on Assange’s vulnerability they influenced. His health condition He is such that he cannot attend hearings in London, where he is held in the rigorous Belmarsh prison. His wife Stella is convinced of this he can die in prison. They both have two children, conceived while he was seeking asylum at the Ecuadorian embassy in London.
“We’re thinking about it”
US President Joe Biden said on Wednesday he is “considering” a request for Australia to abandon the decades-long US effort to prosecute the WikiLeaks founder. for having published a series of confidential documents Americans.
Protesters call for Assange’s release in London. Photo: APFor years, Australia has called on the United States to drop its prosecution of Assange. An Australian citizen, who fought US extradition attempts from a prison in the UK. Asked about the request Wednesday, while hosting Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on an official visit, Biden said: “We are evaluating it”
US prosecutors say WikiLeaks founder encouraged and aided Private Chelsea Manning in stealing files classified before publishing them.
Biden’s comment is the latest sign that his administration may have cooled the idea of putting Assange on trial, which could be politically toxic in an election year.
Last month, the Wall Street Journal reported that the Biden administration was “exploring the possibility” of allowing the WikiLeaks founder to reach a plea deal, which would allow him to admit to charges of mishandling classified documents, in exchange of an early release. .
Australia clamors for him
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Thursday that Biden’s comments They were “certainly encouraging.”
Belmarsh Prison. Photo: EFE“I’m increasingly optimistic about the outcome. But it’s certainly not there yet,” Albanese told Sky News Australia. “We will continue to defend the case every opportunity we get.”
The last hope arrives on the eve fifth anniversary of Assange’s imprisonment in Belmarsh Prison in London. In recent weeks, pressure on the US government has increased from Australia and around the world.
The accusations
Assange has been charged 17 charges of espionage and one of computer misuse. This exposes you to a maximum of 175 years in prison, for posting classified U.S. documents on its website nearly 15 years ago.
US prosecutors allege that Assange, 52, “encouraged and assisted US military intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning in stealing diplomatic cables and military files published by WikiLeaks, putting human lives at risk”.
Australia claims there is a discrepancy between the US treatment of Assange and Manning. President Barack Obama commuted Manning’s 35-year sentence to seven yearswhich allowed its publication in 2017.
Return to your country
In February, the Australian parliament passed a motion calling on the US and UK governments to allow Assange return to your home country. Albanese and members of his cabinet voted in favor of the motion.
Assange’s supporters say yes a journalist protected by the First Amendment, which highlighted US military irregularities in Iraq and Afghanistan that were of public interest. Assange’s wife, Stella, said the WikiLeaks founder “is being persecuted because he revealed the true cost of the war in human lives.” She said his health continues to deteriorate in prison and she fears he could die behind bars.
Assange’s wife, Stella. Photo: Daniel Leal/AFPCritics from all over the world, including major media outlets such as The Guardian, New York Times and Le Monde, who participated in the original 2010 publication of Manning’s revelations, They warned that a high-profile trial of Assange could dampen public interest.
Caitlin Vogus of the nonprofit Freedom of the Press Foundation wrote this week that “under the government’s theory in the Assange case, simply publishing government secrets — something journalists do all the time — would violate the Espionage Act.”
The extradition
A British court ruled last month that Assange he cannot be extradited to the United States on espionage charges, unless American authorities guarantee he will not receive the death penalty.
Assange had arrived just hours after being extradited to the United States to face espionage charges. But he was granted a temporary extension when the judges ruled that he could have a final appeal hearing if the US government did not comply with the request.
If Biden decides to drop the prosecution of Assange, it would bring him into line with the previous Democratic administration of Barack Obama. He refrained from accusing the founder of WikiLeaks for fear of violating the rights of freedom of the press, established in the First Amendment.
Finally the 18 charges against him They were introduced under the presidency of Donald Trump. His administration initially accused Assange of a charge of violating a federal computer hacking law.
Source: Clarin
Mary Ortiz is a seasoned journalist with a passion for world events. As a writer for News Rebeat, she brings a fresh perspective to the latest global happenings and provides in-depth coverage that offers a deeper understanding of the world around us.