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.
Shocking Report: ‘250,000 Young White Girls’ Victimized by Muslim Rape Gangs
MUST SEE: ICE Officer Lifts Drowning Child Out of Water, Then Saves His Life with CPR – Dems Call People Like Him ‘Gestapo’
Trump switches support in Oklahoma congressional race as formerly endorsed pastor candidate suspends campaign
Trump-endorsed congressional candidate pledges entire $174K salary to wounded Iraq War veteran’s family
FTC alleges influential transgender health organization misled parents about safety of youth treatments
Handwritten Epstein Notes Found, Confirm He Wanted to Hurt Trump as Badly as Possible, Wasn’t Friend at All
Vance rejects claims Trump-Iran deal echoes Obama-era logic as hawks raise alarm
Trump sends Senate GOP reeling with intelligence chief chaos
Op-Ed: Informed Consent Is Lacking for Abortion
Alex Murdaugh’s lawyer vows to dismantle infamous kennel video as defense weighs another turn on the stand
Smiling suspect stands out as authorities release mugshots of 5 accused in alleged White House UFC attack plot
How World Cup tourists have fallen in love with America, and America has fallen in love with the tourists
How alleged White House UFC attack plotters organized across four states
Watch: Japanese Fans Accidentally Shame Certain Cultures Ruining Our Public Spaces, Go Viral for Unheard-of Behavior at Dallas Stadium
Subcontractors say they’re owed millions, face financial ruin, after helping build Obama Presidential Center
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.
Shocking Report: ‘250,000 Young White Girls’ Victimized by Muslim Rape Gangs
MUST SEE: ICE Officer Lifts Drowning Child Out of Water, Then Saves His Life with CPR – Dems Call People Like Him ‘Gestapo’
Trump switches support in Oklahoma congressional race as formerly endorsed pastor candidate suspends campaign
Trump-endorsed congressional candidate pledges entire $174K salary to wounded Iraq War veteran’s family
FTC alleges influential transgender health organization misled parents about safety of youth treatments
Handwritten Epstein Notes Found, Confirm He Wanted to Hurt Trump as Badly as Possible, Wasn’t Friend at All
Vance rejects claims Trump-Iran deal echoes Obama-era logic as hawks raise alarm
Trump sends Senate GOP reeling with intelligence chief chaos
Op-Ed: Informed Consent Is Lacking for Abortion
Alex Murdaugh’s lawyer vows to dismantle infamous kennel video as defense weighs another turn on the stand
Smiling suspect stands out as authorities release mugshots of 5 accused in alleged White House UFC attack plot
How World Cup tourists have fallen in love with America, and America has fallen in love with the tourists
How alleged White House UFC attack plotters organized across four states
Watch: Japanese Fans Accidentally Shame Certain Cultures Ruining Our Public Spaces, Go Viral for Unheard-of Behavior at Dallas Stadium
Subcontractors say they’re owed millions, face financial ruin, after helping build Obama Presidential Center
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.
