Assange rape case dropped

Citing weakening evidence, Swedish authorities announced Tuesday they’re ending a slowmoving probe of rape allegations against embattled WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.

“I would like to emphasize that the injured party has submitted a credible and reliable version of events,” prosecutor Eva-Marie Persson said in a news release. “Her statements have been coherent, extensive and detailed; however, my overall assessment is that the evidential situation has been weakened to such an extent that there is no longer any reason to continue the investigation.”

The investigation began in 2010 after two women accused the controversial Australian publisher of assaulting them while he was visiting Stockholm. But the probe stalled for years as Assange (inset) fled to the U.K. and was later granted asylum at the Ecuadoran Embassy in London, where he remained until April.

The rape allegation by one of those women remained open until 2017, when prosecutors decided to drop the case. However, the probe was reopened shortly after Assange was kicked out of the embassy and charged with breaching his bail conditions.

Persson said a “number of investigative measures” and witness interviews have been conducted since the 48-year-old was arrested in April, but the evidence has weakened “considerably” because of the time that has elapsed since the alleged rape took place.

Assange has denied the allegations.

“Let us now focus on the threat Mr. Assange has been warning about for years: the belligerent prosecution of the United States and the threat it poses to the First Amendment,” WikiLeaks Editor-in-Chief Kristinn Hrafnsson said in a tweeted statement.

Assange, who’s being held at a London prison, faces extradition to the U.S. on charges of scheming with whistleblower Chelsea Manning to break a password for a classified government computer. Extradition proceedings are set to begin in February.