WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange can appeal against extradition to the United States on espionage charges, a London court ruled Monday 香蕉视频直播� a decision likely to further drag out an already long legal saga.
High Court judges Victoria Sharp and Jeremy Johnson ruled for Assange after his lawyers argued that the U.S. government provided 香蕉视频直播渂latantly inadequate香蕉视频直播� assurances that he would have the same free speech protections as an American citizen if extradited from Britain.
Assange, 52, has been indicted on 17 espionage charges and one charge of computer misuse over his website香蕉视频直播檚 publication of a trove of classified U.S. documents almost 15 years ago.
Hundreds of supporters cheered and applauded outside court as news of the ruling reached them from inside the Royal Courts of Justice.
Assange香蕉视频直播檚 wife, Stella, said the U.S. had tried to put 香蕉视频直播渓ipstick on a pig 香蕉视频直播� but the judges did not buy it.香蕉视频直播� She said the U.S. should 香蕉视频直播渞ead the situation香蕉视频直播� and drop the case.
香蕉视频直播淎s a family we are relieved but how long can this go on?香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淭his case is shameful and it is taking an enormous toll on Julian.香蕉视频直播�
The Australian computer expert has spent the last five years in a British high-security prison after taking refuge in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London for seven years. Assange was not in court to hear the ruling because of health reasons, his lawyer said.
American prosecutors allege that Assange encouraged and helped U.S. Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning to steal diplomatic cables and military files that WikiLeaks published.
Assange香蕉视频直播檚 lawyers have argued he was a journalist who exposed U.S. military wrongdoing in Iraq and Afghanistan. Sending him to the U.S., they said, would expose him to a politically motivated prosecution and risk a 香蕉视频直播渇lagrant denial of justice.香蕉视频直播�
The U.S. government says Assange香蕉视频直播檚 actions went way beyond those of a journalist gathering information, amounting to an attempt to solicit, steal and indiscriminately publish classified government documents.
The brief ruling from the bench followed arguments over Assange香蕉视频直播檚 claim that by releasing the trove of confidential documents he was essentially a publisher and due the free press protections guaranteed by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
The hearing was a follow-up to a provisional ruling in March that said he could take his case to the Court of Appeal unless the U.S. guaranteed he would not face the death penalty if extradited and would have the same free speech protections as a U.S. citizen.
The U.S. provided those assurances but Assange香蕉视频直播檚 lawyers only accepted that he would not face the prospect of capital punishment.
They said the assurance that Assange could 香蕉视频直播渞aise and seek to rely upon香蕉视频直播� the First Amendment fell short of the protections he deserved. Further, they argued that the prosecutor refused to say he would not challenge Assange香蕉视频直播檚 right to use such a defense.
香蕉视频直播淭he real issue is whether an adequate assurance has been provided to remove the real risk identified by the court,香蕉视频直播� Fitzgerald said. 香蕉视频直播淚t is submitted that no adequate assurance has been made.香蕉视频直播�
The court previously said that without the right to a First Amendment defense, Assange香蕉视频直播檚 extradition could be incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights, which also provides free speech and media protections.
Attorney James Lewis, representing the U.S., said Assange香蕉视频直播檚 conduct was 香蕉视频直播渟imply unprotected香蕉视频直播� by the First Amendment.
香蕉视频直播淣o one, neither U.S. citizens nor foreign citizens, are entitled to rely on the First Amendment in relation to publication of illegally obtained national defense information giving the names of innocent sources, to their grave and imminent risk of harm,香蕉视频直播� Lewis said.
Assange香蕉视频直播檚 lawyers say he could face up to 175 years in prison if convicted, though American authorities have said any sentence would likely be much shorter.
Assange香蕉视频直播檚 family and supporters say his physical and mental health have suffered during more than a decade of legal battles, which includes seven years spent inside the Ecuadorian Embassy in London from 2012 until 2019. He has spent the past five years in a British high-security prison.
Commuters emerging from a Tube stop near the courthouse couldn香蕉视频直播檛 miss a large sign bearing Assange香蕉视频直播檚 photo and the words, 香蕉视频直播淧ublishing is not a crime. War crimes are.香蕉视频直播�
Scores of supporters gathered outside the neo-Gothic Royal Courts of Justice chanting 香蕉视频直播淔ree Julian Assange香蕉视频直播� and 香蕉视频直播淧ress freedom, Assange freedom.香蕉视频直播� Some held white flags aimed at President Joe Biden, exhorting: 香蕉视频直播淟et him go Joe.香蕉视频直播�
Biden said last month that he was considering a request from Australia to drop the case and let Assange return to his home country.
Officials provided no other details but Assange香蕉视频直播檚 wife said it was 香蕉视频直播渁 good sign香蕉视频直播� and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the comment was encouraging.
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