Assange set to be prosecuted in US

The Justice Department has prepared an indictment against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, marking a drastic escalation of the government’s yearslong battle with him and his anti-secrecy group.

It was not clear if prosecutors have filed charges against Assange. The indictment came to light late on Thursday through an unrelated court filing in which prosecutors inadvertently mentioned charges against him.

“The court filing was made in error,” said Joshua Stueve, a spokesman for the US attorney’s office for the Eastern District of Virginia. “That was not the intended name for this filing.”

Assange has lived for years in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London and would have to be arrested and extradited if he were to face charges in federal court, altogether a multistep diplomatic and legal process.

The disclosure came as the special counsel, Robert Mueller, is investigating links between US President Donald Trump’s associates and Russia’s 2016 election interference.

WikiLeaks published thousands of emails that year from Democrats during the presidential race that were stolen by Russian intelligence officers. The hackings were a part of Moscow’s campaign of disruption.

Although the possible charges against Assange remained a mystery on Thursday, an indictment centering on the publication of information of public interest would create a precedent with profound implications for press freedoms.

WASHINGTON: