The United Kingdom has signed an extradition request for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who faces charges in the US under the Espionage Act.
UK Home Secretary Sajid Javid said he signed the papers on Wednesday, a day after the US Justice Department formally asked Britain to extradite the 47-year-old Australian.
“First of all I am very pleased the police were able to apprehend him and now he is rightly behind bars because he broke UK law,” Javid told BBC Radio 4 on Thursday.
“There is an extradition request from the US that is before the courts tomorrow but yesterday I signed the extradition order and certified it and that will be going in front of the courts tomorrow,” he added.
Three States Carry Out Executions on the Same Day in Rare Occurrence
Newly Elected Congressional Democrat Due to Face Felony Charge in Court
Far-Left Media Outlet Abruptly Folds, Causing Conservatives to Dig Up Some of Its Most Insane Headlines
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to what happens next on Capitol Hill
Trump’s move from Wiles to Miller signals major tactical shift for governing without Congress
Watch: NBA Players Can’t Contain Themselves When Singer Desecrates Anthem with LGBT Flag
Houston mayor bolts early from ICE cooperation after blue wave crashes in Texas
Reporter’s Notebook: A user’s manual to upcoming leadership elections in the House and Senate
Newsom Commutes Sentences of California’s 548 Prisoners on Death Row
Meghan Markle’s father arrested on federal child pornography charges
Allies fear relying on US after Starshield disruption demonstrated ‘kill switch’ threat
MICHAEL RUIZ: California prosecutors revolt after Newsom orders state’s worst killers off death row
Dems pivot from ‘affordability’ pitch to DHS probe threats after midterm wins
Russia secretly bolstered Iran’s missile arsenal before war with US, records uncover
Prosecutor overseeing Trump ‘grand conspiracy’ investigation resigns
The US will detail all charges against Assange on Friday, when it seeks his extradition in a London court.
US prosecutors initially charged Assange with a single count of computer intrusion, but last month added 17 new counts, including controversial charges under the
Espionage Act for encouraging, receiving and publishing national defense information in concert with former Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning.
Such a charge under the Espionage Act has never been successfully prosecuted, according to CNN legal analyst Steve Vladeck.
Assange’s initial indictment sparked a debate over the First Amendment and whether his alleged role in procuring secret US material constituted protected journalistic activity.
Three States Carry Out Executions on the Same Day in Rare Occurrence
Newly Elected Congressional Democrat Due to Face Felony Charge in Court
Far-Left Media Outlet Abruptly Folds, Causing Conservatives to Dig Up Some of Its Most Insane Headlines
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to what happens next on Capitol Hill
Trump’s move from Wiles to Miller signals major tactical shift for governing without Congress
Watch: NBA Players Can’t Contain Themselves When Singer Desecrates Anthem with LGBT Flag
Houston mayor bolts early from ICE cooperation after blue wave crashes in Texas
Reporter’s Notebook: A user’s manual to upcoming leadership elections in the House and Senate
Newsom Commutes Sentences of California’s 548 Prisoners on Death Row
Meghan Markle’s father arrested on federal child pornography charges
Allies fear relying on US after Starshield disruption demonstrated ‘kill switch’ threat
MICHAEL RUIZ: California prosecutors revolt after Newsom orders state’s worst killers off death row
Dems pivot from ‘affordability’ pitch to DHS probe threats after midterm wins
Russia secretly bolstered Iran’s missile arsenal before war with US, records uncover
Prosecutor overseeing Trump ‘grand conspiracy’ investigation resigns
Assange lived inside the Ecuadorian embassy in London for seven years until April when the country revoked his protection and he was arrested.
The UK Home Office said in a statement: “Mr Assange was arrested in relation to a provisional extradition request from the United States of America. He is accused of offences including computer misuse and the unauthorized disclosure of national defence information.”
“We have received the full extradition request, which has been certified by the Home Secretary.
“This case is now before the courts and it would be inappropriate to comment further.”
Story cited here.
