US President Joe Biden considers dropping charges against Julian Assange
In a recent development, US President Joe Biden has expressed his willingness to consider a request from Australia to halt the prosecution of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.
Australia’s Parliament backs the call for Assange’s return
The Australian parliament, led by PM Anthony Albanese, has passed a measure urging for the repatriation of Assange to his home country. The US is seeking to extradite the 52-year-old from the UK on criminal charges related to the leaking of military records.
Assange maintains his innocence
Assange has consistently denied the charges against him, arguing that the leaks were an essential form of journalism. President Biden acknowledged Australia’s request, stating that the matter is under consideration.
Albanese optimistic about a favorable outcome
PM Albanese expressed optimism following Biden’s comments, stating that he is hopeful for a positive resolution. “We want Assange to be able to return home,” Albanese emphasized in an interview with Sky News Australia.
Legal battles and international controversy
Assange continues to fight extradition in the UK courts, with the process temporarily halted in March due to concerns over the death penalty. The US authorities are expected to provide assurances regarding Assange’s treatment by the end of May.
Pressure mounts on Biden to act
Assange’s wife, Stella, took to Twitter to urge President Biden to “do the right thing” and drop the charges. The current editor-in-chief of WikiLeaks, Kristinn Hrafnsson, emphasized that there is still time for Biden to intervene and prevent what he believes is a politically motivated extradition attempt.
A history of controversial leaks
Wikileaks, founded by Assange in 2006, has published numerous confidential documents exposing war crimes and government corruption. The organization gained international attention in 2010 after releasing classified US military records and diplomatic messages.
Legal challenges and confinement
Assange has faced legal battles for years, including a period of refuge in the Ecuadorian embassy. Despite facing initial allegations in Sweden, the case was dropped in 2019 due to the US charges. He has been in Belmarsh prison in London for the past five years.
Source: BBC
