The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

U. K. judge refuses U. S. extraditio­n of Wikileaks founder

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A British judge on Monday rejected the United States’ request to extradite Wikileaks founder Julian Assange to face espionage charges over the publicatio­n of secret U. S. documents a decade ago, saying he was likely to kill himself if held under harsh U. S. prison conditions.

In a mixed ruling for Assange and his supporters, District Judge Vanessa Baraitser rejected defense arguments that the 49- year- old Australian faces a politicall­y motivated American prosecutio­n that rides roughshod over free- speech protection­s. But she said Assange’s precarious mental health would likely deteriorat­e further under the conditions of “near total isolation” he would face in a U. S. prison.

“I find that the mental condition of Mr. Assange is such that it would be oppressive to extradite him to the United States of America,” the judge said.

Lawyers for the U. S. government said they would appeal the decision, and the U. S. Department of Justice said it would continue to seek Assange’s extraditio­n.

“While we are extremely disappoint­ed in the court’s ultimate decision, we are gratified that the United States prevailed on every point of law raised,” it said in a statement. “In particular, the court rejected all of Mr. Assange’s arguments regarding political motivation, political offffffens­e, fair trial and freedom of speech.”

Assange’s lawyers said they would ask for his release from a London prison, where he has been held for more than 18 months, at a bail hearing Wednesday.

Assange, who sat quietly in the dock at London’s Central Criminal Court for the ruling, wiped his brow as the decision was announced. His partner, Stella Moris, with whom he has two young sons, wept.

Outside court, Moris said the ruling was “the first step toward justice,” but it was not yet time to celebrate.

“I had hoped that today would be the day that Julian would come home,” she said. “Today is not that day, but that day will come soon.”

The ruling marked a dramatic moment in Assange’s long legal battles in Britain — though likely not its final chapter. It’s unclear whether the incoming Biden administra­tion will pursue the prosecutio­n, initiated under President Donald Trump.

Assange’s American lawyer, Barry Pollack, said the legal team was “enormously gratified” by the British court’s decision.

“We hope that after considerat­ion of the U. K. court’s ruling, the United States will decide not to pursue the case further,” he said.

Moris urged Trump to pardon Assange before he leaves office this month.

“Mr. President, tear down these prison walls,” she said. “Let our little boys have their father.”

U. S. prosecutor­s have indicted Assange on 17 espionage charges and one charge of computer misuse over Wikileaks’ publicatio­n of thousands of leaked military and diplomatic documents. The charges carry a maximum sentence of 175 years in prison.

 ?? ELIZABETH COOK/ PA VIA AP ?? In a court artist sketch, Julian Assange appears Monday in a London courtroom, where District Judge Vanessa Baraitser cited his precarious mental health in rejecting an extraditio­n request.
ELIZABETH COOK/ PA VIA AP In a court artist sketch, Julian Assange appears Monday in a London courtroom, where District Judge Vanessa Baraitser cited his precarious mental health in rejecting an extraditio­n request.

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