Julian Assange’s Lawyers Accuse US of ‘State Retaliation’ in Extradition Battle
Julian Assange, the founder of Wikileaks, is currently facing an extradition battle as the United States seeks to prosecute him for disclosing secret military files. His lawyers have accused the US of “state retaliation” and argue that it would be against UK law to hand him over.
Assange has been in Belmarsh, a UK prison, since 2019. The American authorities want to extradite him for his role in releasing classified information in 2010 and 2011. At a two-day High Court hearing, his legal team presented their case against extradition.
Edward Fitzgerald KC, one of Assange’s lawyers, argued that the US’s prosecution bid was “politically motivated.” He stated that Assange was exposing serious criminality when he disclosed the documents and that he was engaging in ordinary journalistic practice. Mark Summers KC, another lawyer representing Assange, claimed that the US sought retribution for Assange’s political opinions.
The lawyers also raised concerns about their client’s safety, alleging that he was at risk of extrajudicial actions by the CIA or other agencies. They suggested that there was a plot to kill Assange during the seven years he took refuge inside Ecuador’s London embassy. They claimed that then-US President Donald Trump had asked for options on how to kill Assange, but the plan fell apart when UK authorities opposed it.
Assange’s legal battle began in 2010 when Wikileaks released confidential military files from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. He sought refuge in London’s Ecuadorian embassy until his arrest by the Metropolitan Police in 2019. The US demanded his extradition, arguing that the disclosures endangered lives.
In 2022, a British judge ruled that the US had a legitimate criminal case against Assange but refused extradition due to concerns about his mental health and the risk of self-harm. However, the US later overturned that ruling after providing assurances about how Assange would be treated and the possibility of serving any jail sentence in Australia.
At the current High Court hearing, Assange’s lawyers are seeking permission to challenge the extradition order signed by the UK home secretary in 2022. If they fail to convince the judges, Assange must be extradited within 28 days, unless he can obtain a temporary halt from the European Court of Human Rights.
Nick Vamos, the former head of extradition at the Crown Prosecution Service, stated that US Marshals could arrive in London within days if the High Court rejects the case. The outcome of this legal battle is crucial for Assange’s future, with his wife, Stella Assange, stating that it will determine if he lives or dies. She described the case as politically motivated and expressed gratitude for the supporters gathered outside the High Court.
As the hearing continues, the world watches closely to see how this high-profile extradition battle unfolds and what it means for Julian Assange and the future of whistleblowing and journalism.