Battle begins for computers of WikiLeaks founder Assange

BOGOTA, Colombia — With Julian Assange locked away in a London jail, a new battle has broken out over what may contain some of the WikiLeaks founder’s biggest secrets: his computers.

On Monday, judicial authorities from Ecuador inventoried Assange’s belongings and digital devices left behind at the London embassy following his expulsion last month from the diplomatic compound that had been his home the past seven years.

It came as Sweden announced it was seeking Assange’s arrest on suspicion of rape, setting up a possible tug-of-war with the U.S. over any extradition from Britain.

Ecuadorean authorities said they were acting on a request by the U.S. prosecutors.

Assange, 47, is serving a 50-week sentence in a London prison for skipping bail while the U.S. seeks his extradition for conspiring to hack into military computers.

Ecuadorian authorities said they will hand over any belongings not given to U.S. or Ecuadorian investigators to Assange’s lawyers, who weren’t invited to Monday’s inventory-taking.

Ecuadorean President Lenin Moreno’s actions against Assange were celebrated by the Trump administration, which was key in helping the nation secure a $4.2 billion credit line from the International Monetary Fund and has provided the South American country with new trade and military deals.

“The Americans are the ones pulling the strings, and Moreno their puppet dancing to the tune of money,” said WikiLeaks’ editor-in-chief Kristinn Hrafnsson.