Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, might see a positive turn in his legal battle as President Joe Biden hints at the possibility of dropping charges against him. Assange’s wife, Stella Assange, expressed optimism, stating that Biden’s remarks signal a potential shift in the case. Supporters of Assange rallied in various cities demanding his release, marking the fifth anniversary of his imprisonment in London’s Belmarsh prison.
President Biden acknowledged Australia’s request to drop the decade-long pursuit of Assange by the U.S. government. This proposal would allow Assange, an Australian citizen, to return home instead of facing espionage charges in the United States. Stella Assange welcomed Biden’s comments, considering the indictment as a legacy of the previous administration and urging Biden to have dismissed it earlier.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese echoed Stella Assange’s sentiment, stating that Assange has already suffered enough. Australia emphasizes the disparity in treatment between Assange and Chelsea Manning, the former U.S. Army intelligence analyst. Manning had her sentence commuted by President Obama, leading to her release in 2017.
Assange faces 17 espionage charges and one charge of computer misuse related to WikiLeaks’ publication of classified U.S. documents. U.S. prosecutors allege that Assange aided Manning in obtaining and leaking sensitive information, endangering lives. Assange’s supporters argue that he acted as a journalist, protected by the First Amendment, and exposed military wrongdoing in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Assange has been incarcerated since 2019, fighting extradition after spending seven years in Ecuador’s London embassy to avoid extradition to Sweden over allegations of rape and sexual assault. The relationship between Assange and Ecuador soured, leading to his eviction in 2019 and subsequent imprisonment in Belmarsh for breaching bail.
Despite a U.K. court ruling against extradition, Assange’s health continues to deteriorate in prison. Concerns about his well-being persist, with his wife fearing he may die behind bars. WikiLeaks editor-in-chief Kristinn Hrafnsson described Biden’s comments as a “ray of hope” for Assange, emphasizing the support from his family and the broader community as vital for his resilience.
A further court hearing is scheduled for May 20, with Assange too ill to attend recent hearings. The U.K. government’s extradition order remains pending, contingent on assurances from U.S. authorities regarding the death penalty. Assange’s fate hangs in the balance as his legal battle unfolds amidst ongoing health concerns and international scrutiny.
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