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.
Report: ‘Positive’ Development in US-Iran Talks as Clock Ticks Toward Deadline
Trump DOJ Says Not So Fast as Mamdani Announces ‘Racial Equity Plan’
Trump calls into Vance-Orban Hungary event: ‘My kind of people’
Ex-Trump ally Marjorie Taylor Greene joins left-wing calls for the 25th amendment as Iran deadline nears
DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin Floats New Tactic for Cracking Down on Sanctuary Cities
MTG cites 25th Amendment as she calls out Trump over Iran
Daughter of missing American woman in Bahamas says there were ‘prior issues,’ calls for full investigation
Aaron Rupar, Trump-Obsessed Lib Clip Farmer, Gets Glowing Profile From One of UK’s Most Prestigious Papers
Indianapolis official’s home attacked after vote in favor of controversial data center
Trump admin terminates some agreements with districts, college on transgender students
Probe to snare Iran rescue leaker ‘underway’ as Trump threatens jail for imperiling arduous operation
Alert: According to Trump Only a Few Hours Remain Until He May Obliterate Iran from the Map in a Single Night
Democrats squirm as the Left embraces controversial streamer Hasan Piker
Trump Endorses Ex-Fox News Host for Governor’s Race
Ilhan Omar calls Trump an ‘unhinged lunatic,’ urges booting him out of office
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.
Report: ‘Positive’ Development in US-Iran Talks as Clock Ticks Toward Deadline
Trump DOJ Says Not So Fast as Mamdani Announces ‘Racial Equity Plan’
Trump calls into Vance-Orban Hungary event: ‘My kind of people’
Ex-Trump ally Marjorie Taylor Greene joins left-wing calls for the 25th amendment as Iran deadline nears
DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin Floats New Tactic for Cracking Down on Sanctuary Cities
MTG cites 25th Amendment as she calls out Trump over Iran
Daughter of missing American woman in Bahamas says there were ‘prior issues,’ calls for full investigation
Aaron Rupar, Trump-Obsessed Lib Clip Farmer, Gets Glowing Profile From One of UK’s Most Prestigious Papers
Indianapolis official’s home attacked after vote in favor of controversial data center
Trump admin terminates some agreements with districts, college on transgender students
Probe to snare Iran rescue leaker ‘underway’ as Trump threatens jail for imperiling arduous operation
Alert: According to Trump Only a Few Hours Remain Until He May Obliterate Iran from the Map in a Single Night
Democrats squirm as the Left embraces controversial streamer Hasan Piker
Trump Endorses Ex-Fox News Host for Governor’s Race
Ilhan Omar calls Trump an ‘unhinged lunatic,’ urges booting him out of office
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.
