A British court is currently deliberating on whether to grant WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange the right to appeal an extradition order to the United States, where he faces charges under the Espionage Act. Assange has been held in a London prison since 2019 after being accused by the United States of obtaining and publishing classified government documents on WikiLeaks in 2010. His case has been making its way through the courts since his extradition was ordered by a London court in April 2022, and approved by then-Home Secretary Priti Patel two months later.
The High Court heard Assange’s final bid for an appeal in February, and in March, the judges requested specific assurances from U.S. authorities regarding his treatment if extradited. The court will now decide whether the assurances provided by the U.S. government are satisfactory, including that Assange would not face the death penalty, be persecuted for his nationality, or not have access to First Amendment protections like a U.S. citizen. The possible outcomes include the denial of Assange’s appeal request, which could result in his potential extradition to the United States within 24 hours.
However, Assange’s legal team has vowed to challenge his extradition by appealing to the European Court of Human Rights if necessary. This challenge could potentially delay his extradition process until the case is heard in Strasbourg, France. If the E.C.H.R. does not intervene, Assange would face 17 counts of violating the Espionage Act and a federal charge of conspiring to hack into a Pentagon computer network. He could potentially receive a sentence of up to 175 years if convicted, though U.S. government lawyers have suggested a shorter sentence of four to six years.
Alternatively, if the court grants Assange the right to appeal, the legal case would continue to be disputed, and his extradition would be delayed. Moreover, his defenders of press freedom have been mobilized as the case has caught the world’s attention. There is also the possibility of a political agreement to resolve Assange’s extradition, with his legal team working closely with the Australian government in the hope that he may ultimately be allowed to return to his home country. President Biden’s recent statement hinted at a possible reprieve, though the Justice Department has yet to comment on this development.
Assange’s team has suggested that the judges could also exercise their judicial discretion and dismiss the extradition case entirely, but there is no indication that this is currently being considered. The outcome of the court’s decision, which could come as early as Monday afternoon, is eagerly awaited by all involved parties. The case continues to attract global attention due to its implications for press freedom and national security, with the final ruling likely to have significant ramifications for Assange and his legal battle.
