President Joe Biden is contemplating a request from Australia to end the long-standing U.S. pursuit of prosecuting Julian Assange, the founder of Wikileaks, for releasing a vast trove of American classified documents. Assange, an Australian citizen, has been resisting extradition efforts by the U.S. from his prison in the U.K. for years.
During an official visit hosting Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, President Biden responded to inquiries about Australia’s request, stating, “We’re considering it.” This signals a potential shift in the U.S. stance on Assange’s prosecution, which has been ongoing for over a decade.
Assange faces 17 espionage charges and one count of computer misuse related to Wikileaks’ publication of classified U.S. documents nearly 15 years ago. U.S. prosecutors allege that Assange aided U.S. Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning in accessing diplomatic cables and military files, jeopardizing lives in the process.
Australia has persistently urged the U.S. to drop its prosecution of Assange, highlighting what it sees as a discrepancy in treatment between Assange and Manning. Manning’s 35-year sentence was commuted by then-U.S. President Barack Obama to seven years, leading to her release in 2017.
Supporters of Assange argue that he acted as a journalist protected by the First Amendment, exposing military wrongdoing in Iraq and Afghanistan that was in the public interest. Stella Assange, Julian’s wife, has expressed concern over his deteriorating health in prison, attributing it to his continued persecution for revealing the human cost of war.
Recent developments in Assange’s legal battle include a British court ruling that he cannot be extradited to the U.S. on espionage charges unless American authorities guarantee that he won’t face the death penalty. This ruling adds a significant layer of complexity to the ongoing extradition proceedings and the broader debate surrounding Assange’s case.
The consideration by President Biden regarding Australia’s request underscores the international dimension of Assange’s prosecution and the diplomatic ramifications it carries. As discussions continue, the fate of Julian Assange remains uncertain, with implications extending beyond legal boundaries to encompass freedom of speech and press freedoms globally.
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