The recent hearing in the Julian Assange extradition case saw the US government providing the assurances requested by the High Court in London. This development has effectively nullified one potential ground for appeal for Assange.
The assurances submitted by the United States include allowing Assange to rely on the First Amendment right to free speech in his defense, ensuring that his Australian citizenship does not prejudice him at trial, and guaranteeing that no new charges leading to the death penalty will be imposed.
With these assurances in place before the deadline of April 16, it appears that all possible avenues for appeal have been exhausted. The Court is now likely to rule in favor of the US Justice Department.
If extradited to the United States, Assange, 52, will face 18 charges, primarily under the Espionage Act, related to WikiLeaks’ publication of confidential US military records and diplomatic cables. US authorities maintain that Assange is being prosecuted for conspiring with Chelsea Manning to unlawfully obtain the leaked materials, not for their publication.
While the US has assured Assange of his right to raise First Amendment protections during trial, the final decision on this matter rests with US courts. Additionally, the death penalty will not be sought or imposed in his case.
Despite these assurances, Assange’s wife Stella expressed dissatisfaction, calling the guarantees “blatant weasel words” that do not alleviate concerns about his future. She voiced concerns about his potential lifelong imprisonment in a US prison for his journalistic activities.
There will be another court hearing in London on May 20, where Assange’s legal team is expected to challenge the credibility of the US assurances. President Joe Biden has also hinted at considering a request from the Australian government to drop the prosecution, raising a glimmer of hope for Assange’s supporters.
As the legal battle continues, discussions about a potential plea bargaining deal are reportedly underway. The outcome remains uncertain, but the case continues to draw international attention and debate.
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