WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange can appeal against extradition to the United States on espionage charges, a London court ruled Monday 害羞草研究所� a decision likely to further drag out an already long legal saga.
High Court judges Victoria Sharp and Jeremy Johnson ruled for Assange after his lawyers argued that the U.S. government provided 害羞草研究所渂latantly inadequate害羞草研究所� assurances that he would have the same free speech protections as an American citizen if extradited from Britain.
Assange, 52, has been indicted on 17 espionage charges and one charge of computer misuse over his website害羞草研究所檚 publication of a trove of classified U.S. documents almost 15 years ago.
Hundreds of supporters cheered and applauded outside court as news of the ruling reached them from inside the Royal Courts of Justice.
Assange害羞草研究所檚 wife, Stella, said the U.S. had tried to put 害羞草研究所渓ipstick on a pig 害羞草研究所� but the judges did not buy it.害羞草研究所� She said the U.S. should 害羞草研究所渞ead the situation害羞草研究所� and drop the case.
害羞草研究所淎s a family we are relieved but how long can this go on?害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淭his case is shameful and it is taking an enormous toll on Julian.害羞草研究所�
The Australian computer expert has spent the last five years in a British high-security prison after taking refuge in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London for seven years. Assange was not in court to hear the ruling because of health reasons, his lawyer said.
American prosecutors allege that Assange encouraged and helped U.S. Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning to steal diplomatic cables and military files that WikiLeaks published.
Assange害羞草研究所檚 lawyers have argued he was a journalist who exposed U.S. military wrongdoing in Iraq and Afghanistan. Sending him to the U.S., they said, would expose him to a politically motivated prosecution and risk a 害羞草研究所渇lagrant denial of justice.害羞草研究所�
The U.S. government says Assange害羞草研究所檚 actions went way beyond those of a journalist gathering information, amounting to an attempt to solicit, steal and indiscriminately publish classified government documents.
The brief ruling from the bench followed arguments over Assange害羞草研究所檚 claim that by releasing the trove of confidential documents he was essentially a publisher and due the free press protections guaranteed by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
The hearing was a follow-up to a provisional ruling in March that said he could take his case to the Court of Appeal unless the U.S. guaranteed he would not face the death penalty if extradited and would have the same free speech protections as a U.S. citizen.
The U.S. provided those assurances but Assange害羞草研究所檚 lawyers only accepted that he would not face the prospect of capital punishment.
They said the assurance that Assange could 害羞草研究所渞aise and seek to rely upon害羞草研究所� the First Amendment fell short of the protections he deserved. Further, they argued that the prosecutor refused to say he would not challenge Assange害羞草研究所檚 right to use such a defense.
害羞草研究所淭he real issue is whether an adequate assurance has been provided to remove the real risk identified by the court,害羞草研究所� Fitzgerald said. 害羞草研究所淚t is submitted that no adequate assurance has been made.害羞草研究所�
The court previously said that without the right to a First Amendment defense, Assange害羞草研究所檚 extradition could be incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights, which also provides free speech and media protections.
Attorney James Lewis, representing the U.S., said Assange害羞草研究所檚 conduct was 害羞草研究所渟imply unprotected害羞草研究所� by the First Amendment.
害羞草研究所淣o one, neither U.S. citizens nor foreign citizens, are entitled to rely on the First Amendment in relation to publication of illegally obtained national defense information giving the names of innocent sources, to their grave and imminent risk of harm,害羞草研究所� Lewis said.
Assange害羞草研究所檚 lawyers say he could face up to 175 years in prison if convicted, though American authorities have said any sentence would likely be much shorter.
Assange害羞草研究所檚 family and supporters say his physical and mental health have suffered during more than a decade of legal battles, which includes seven years spent inside the Ecuadorian Embassy in London from 2012 until 2019. He has spent the past five years in a British high-security prison.
Commuters emerging from a Tube stop near the courthouse couldn害羞草研究所檛 miss a large sign bearing Assange害羞草研究所檚 photo and the words, 害羞草研究所淧ublishing is not a crime. War crimes are.害羞草研究所�
Scores of supporters gathered outside the neo-Gothic Royal Courts of Justice chanting 害羞草研究所淔ree Julian Assange害羞草研究所� and 害羞草研究所淧ress freedom, Assange freedom.害羞草研究所� Some held white flags aimed at President Joe Biden, exhorting: 害羞草研究所淟et him go Joe.害羞草研究所�
Biden said last month that he was considering a request from Australia to drop the case and let Assange return to his home country.
Officials provided no other details but Assange害羞草研究所檚 wife said it was 害羞草研究所渁 good sign害羞草研究所� and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the comment was encouraging.
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