In a high-stakes legal showdown, lawyers representing the United States asserted on Wednesday that Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, is being prosecuted for revealing the names of confidential sources, not for his political beliefs. Assange, aged 52, is currently fighting against extradition from Britain to the United States.
US prosecutors are pursuing charges against Assange related to WikiLeaks’ release of classified US military records and diplomatic cables. They argue that the leaks endangered the lives of American agents and constituted criminal behavior on Assange’s part.
Supporters of Julian Assange, however, view him as a journalist and a champion of truth who is being unfairly targeted for exposing wrongdoing by the US government.
During proceedings in London’s High Court, Assange’s lawyers contended that his prosecution is politically motivated, alleging that former US President Donald Trump had even explored options to harm him.
Contrary to these claims, attorneys representing the US emphasized that Assange’s prosecution is grounded in legal principles and evidence. Clair Dobbin, representing the US, underscored that Assange’s actions, particularly the indiscriminate publication of names of US sources, set him apart, irrespective of his political views.
Responding to allegations of a US plot to harm Assange, Dobbin asserted that assurances had been provided regarding his treatment, undermining suggestions of potential harm.
Dobbin further argued that WikiLeaks’ methods, which involved soliciting stolen documents and publishing unredacted information, disqualified Assange from being considered an ordinary journalist or WikiLeaks as an ordinary publisher.
Julian Assange himself was absent from the court proceedings, reportedly due to illness, as stated by his lawyers and his wife, Stella Assange.
Assange’s legal battles date back to 2010 when he first faced legal challenges. After spending seven years in asylum at Ecuador’s embassy in London, he was arrested in 2019 for violating bail conditions. Since then, he has been held in a maximum-security prison in London.
His extradition to the US was approved by Britain in 2022, with the possibility of facing a lengthy prison sentence if convicted. While Assange’s lawyers anticipate a potential sentence of up to 175 years, US prosecutors have suggested a much shorter term.
Should Assange lose the current legal battle, his only remaining option would be to appeal to the European Court of Human Rights, with his legal team prepared to seek emergency measures if necessary.
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