Joe Biden told a reporter that his administration is “considering” Australia’s request to drop the prosecution against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.
WATCH:
“Promising” signs as President Biden says he is ‘considering’ Australian request to drop Assange prosecution #FreeAssangeNOW pic.twitter.com/UTbRehmvWt
— WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) April 10, 2024
From the Associated Press:
For years, Australia has called on the U.S. to drop its prosecution against Assange, an Australian citizen who has fought U.S. extradition efforts from prison in the U.K. Asked about the request on Wednesday, as he hosted Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida for an official visit, Biden said, “We’re considering it.”
Assange has been indicted on 17 espionage charges and one charge of computer misuse over his website’s publication of a trove of classified U.S. documents almost 15 years ago. American prosecutors allege that Assange, 52, encouraged and helped U.S. Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning steal diplomatic cables and military files that WikiLeaks published, putting lives at risk.
Australia argues there is a disconnect between the U.S. treatment of Assange and Manning. Then-U.S. President Barack Obama commuted Manning’s 35-year sentence to seven years, which allowed her release in 2017.
U.S. government is considering dropping their prosecution of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, according to the White House. pic.twitter.com/oKguwzIX8n
— Sheri
(@FFT1776) April 11, 2024
“As of today Julian Assange has been held in Belmarsh high security prison for five years,” Stella Assange said.
WATCH:
As of today Julian Assange has been held in Belmarsh high security prison for five years. #FreeAssangeNOW #AssangeBelmarsh5Yearshttps://t.co/pZGBjY8hjx pic.twitter.com/hdUNI53gD6
— Stella Assange #FreeAssangeNOW (@Stella_Assange) April 10, 2024
Last month, the High Court in London ruled Assange can appeal his extradition to the United States.
Two judges ruled Assange can take his case to an appeal hearing if the Biden administration cannot provide the court with “satisfactory assurances.”
Julian Assange Avoids Extradition To United States, For How Long?
"Thursday 11th April marks 5 years of incarceration for Julian Assange in the UK's most secure prison for publishing - having been detained in the UK in one form or another for almost 14 years For championing the public's right to know he faces a 175 year sentence if extradited to the US, while UN experts have warned he is at risk of torture and will not survive Assange, who revealed war crimes and human rights violations remains separated from his wife and two young children. It was revealed in court recently that the CIA drew up plans to assassinate the publisher following WikiLeaks Vault 7 release. The US refused to assure UK judges that Assange won’t be executed if he’s extradited," WikiLeaks wrote.
"All major free speech, press and human rights organizations have called for the publishers release including Amnesty, Reporters Without Borders, ACLU, PEN, HRW, The International Federation of Journalists, NUJ, The New York Times, The Guardian, El Pais, Le Monde, Der Spiegel, as well as Heads of State and politicians from around the world," WikiLeaks added.
Thursday 11th April marks 5 years of incarceration for Julian Assange in the UK's most secure prison for publishing - having been detained in the UK in one form or another for almost 14 years
For championing the public's right to know he faces a 175 year sentence if extradited… pic.twitter.com/LkMRtGFgPN
— WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) April 11, 2024
BBC reports:
The extradition was put on hold in March after London's High Court said the United States must provide assurances he would not face the death penalty.
The High Court is due to evaluate any responses from the US authorities at the end of May.
Mr Assange's wife Stella said she was also encouraged by Mr Biden's comments.
"It looks like things could be moving in the right direction," she told BBC Radio 4's Today programme, adding that she believed the president should have dropped the case against her husband on the first day of his premiership.
"Lots of people around the world... have been saying for years that this case should be dropped, that it is a danger to press freedom."
When asked about her husband's health, Stella Assange said he was "extremely unwell".
"He's stressed, obviously, because he could be extradited to the US to face 175 years in prison."
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