Last week, it emerged that there is a secret indictment of Assange , which was accidentally revealed in an unrelated legal filing. But based on what is known publicly, there are good reasons to be skeptical of his prosecution, and to fear it could set a damaging precedent that would weaken press freedom. Assange has published information that exposed government wrongdoing, including the abuse of detainees in Iraq. Manning, a former US army intelligence analyst, was sentenced to 35 years in prison for her part in the leaks, but eventually served seven when former US president Barack Obama commuted her sentence.
She was later sent back to prison in March for refusing to testify against WikiLeaks and was ordered to be released around a year later. Meanwhile, relations between Assange and Ecuador had begun to sour amid accusations from President Lenin Moreno of "repeated violations" at the embassy.
It resulted in Assange being evicted - and he was filmed in April being dragged from the building. Assange was found guilty of skipping bail and, pending the US request for extradition, was taken to Belmarsh Prison, where he remains to this day. She accepted the case from the defence team that it would be "oppressive" to allow Assange to be sent to a solitary confinement facility in America when considering the state of his mental health.
Assange, now a father of two, is said to have experienced suicidal ideation in Belmarsh and has been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and depression. The court also heard how the year-old had planned for the end of his life. A month after that, it unveiled 17 considerably more serious counts under the Espionage Act. He faces jail terms that total years. Ms Moris said it was expected that on the first day of the hearing, the US would make its case.
Supporters of Mr Assange, who argue he should receive the same protections as any other journalist or publisher, have called on President Joe Biden to halt the extradition. Rebecca Vincent, director of international campaigns at Reporters Without Borders, said the case this week had implications for journalists around the word.
This article was updated on 26 October to make it clear that Mr Assange faces a total of 18 charges, one of conspiracy to commit computer fraud, and 17 under the Espionage Act. While the U. Dana Rohrabacher, offered him a pardon if he agreed to say Russia was not involved in leaking the emails. The White House and Rohrabacher deny a pardon was offered.
As the extradition hearing got underway, Fitzgerald told a British judge the U. WikiLeaks intrigue: Trump offered Assange a pardon if he cleared Russia, lawyer says. If Assange is extradited to the U. The U. Justice Department chose not to comment on whether the Eastern District of Virginia would offer an impartial setting for jury selection in any Assange trial. The White House and U.
State Department chose not to comment on whether the administration was concerned about the impact of Assange's case on the First Amendment. Lewis, who represents the U. In a briefing with reporters ahead of Assange's hearing, Kristin Hrafnsson, WikiLeaks' editor-in-chief, described the indictment against Assange as "propaganda.
And Jennifer Robinson, a member of Assange's legal team, said he did "what all journalists, all honorable ones," do every day: take receipt of information, communicate about how to protect the source of that information Manning , and publish it.
Still, it's far from certain that Assange will lose his extradition case. And even if he does, it does not automatically follow he will be sent to the U. Doobay said if the judge decides "not to refuse" the U. British law forbids extradition under such circumstances. While none of the current charges carry the death penalty, Assange's supporters have argued that the Trump administration can't be trusted and could decide to unveil additional charges that do carry a death sentence once Assange arrives on U.
Doobay noted that most extradition requests the U. It's not clear what will happen if Assange prevails in the British court. Because he has already served the 50 weeks for skipping bail he could simply be free to go. But if he is deported to his native Australia, the U. It could also issue an international arrest warrant if he travels beyond Britain's borders.
Assange's health will also be considered and Nils Melzer, the United Nations' special rapporteur on torture, said in an interview that when he visited Assange in Belmarsh Prison in May last year he was displaying symptoms akin to "psychological torture" likely caused by prolonged exposure to extreme stress, chronic anxiety and isolation.
In a series of preliminary hearings Assange has attended in person and by video link from prison he has sometimes appeared frail and confused when questioned by the judge. He has also lost weight. However, appearing in court for the extradition hearing in late February he mostly looked relaxed and appeared able to follow along with the proceedings. Although he complained several times that he was struggling to hear the legal arguments being made by both sides because of being forced to sit behind a high glass barrier in the courtroom, a scenario he said that has also prevented him from giving "confidential instructions" to his lawyers.
Assange's legal team asked the judge, Vanessa Baraitser, to consider whether he can sit in the well of court, next to them, when evidence in the case is heard in May. Assange suddenly stands up and says, pointing through the glass, 'this is exactly the problem he tried to pass a note and Summers did not see it. Judge: 'Mr. Assange: communicate through your lawyers, please'. WikiLeaks' Hrafnsson said Assange's health has been improving but his father, John Shipton, told reporters ahead of the hearing that his son's long confinement has damaged his health and he feared any U.
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