UK Court rejects Julian Assange US extradition appeal

A UK court has handed down its decision on Julian Assange’s latest fight to stop his extradition to the US.

Australian WikiLeaks founder Julian’s Assange’s appeal against a United States extradition order has been rejected by a UK High Court judge.

The appeal, signed by then UK Home Secretary Priti Patel in June 2022, was rejected on all eight counts, in a decision handed down by a single judge in a three-page decision on Tuesday.

Mr Assange’s appeal argued Ms Patel erred in her decision to approve the extradition order on grounds of specialty and because the request itself violated Article 4 of the US-UK Extradition Treaty.

The appeal also argued Assange was being prosecuted and punished for his political opinions,

and for protected speech.

The appeal claimed the US Government had misrepresented the core facts of the case to the British courts, and the extradition request and its surrounding circumstances constituted an abuse of process.

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is expected to make another appeal to fight extradition to the US. Picture: AFP

Assange’s legal team has until June 13 to submit a 20-page appeal to a panel of two judges, who will convene a public hearing.

Assange’s father, John Shipton said via a statement that his son would now make a further appeal for a hearing before two High Court judges.

“The grounds for a hearing are clear, firm and just. Julian’s family watch on horrified and all fair-minded people the world over watch with profound disquiet and alarm”.

In a statement, Assange's’s wife Stella said: “On Tuesday next week, my husband Julian Assange will make a renewed application for appeal to the High Court. The matter will then proceed to a public hearing before two new judges at the High Court and we remain optimistic that we will prevail, and that Julian will not be extradited to the United States where he faces charges that could result in him spending the rest of his life in a maximum-security prison for publishing true information that revealed war crimes committed by the US government.”

FBI REOPENS ASSANGE CASE

US officials are seeking to gather new evidence about Assange in an effort to boost their case against him.

Assange remains jailed in London’s notorious Belmarsh prison as he fights a US attempt to extradite him to face charges in connection with the publication of leaked documents about the Afghanistan and Iraq wars.

According to Nine Newspapers, FBI agents sought to interview acclaimed Scottish novelist Andrew O’Hagan at his home in London about his time working as a ghostwriter on Assange’s autobiography over a decade ago.

O’Hagan, who has previously detailed how his working relationship with Assange broke down, said he would not agree to an FBI interview.

Author Andrew O'Hagan in his Belsize Park flat in London. Picture: Stuart Clarke

The Booker-nominated O’Hagan has in the past described Assange as “thin-skinned, conspiratorial, untruthful, narcissistic”.

Assange’s Australian lawyer Stephen Kenny told Nine Newspapers: “It appears they are continuing to try to investigate, which I find unusual given the amount of time that has passed since the investigation began.

Julian Assange's lawyer Jennifer Robinson. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“I would think it is of some concern because we have been working to try to secure an arrangement that would see Julian come home. It would be very unusual if the FBI was trying to gather evidence that could help clear his name.”

Gabriel Shipton, Assange’s brother, told Nine Newspapers it appeared US prosecutors were trying to prepare a new indictment against Assange.

“It shows they understand how weak the charges against Julian are and are trying to strengthen them,” he said.

US authorities have charged Assange with 17 counts of breaching the US Espionage Act plus a separate hacking-related charge.

Supporters of Assange say he is being punished for publishing embarrassing information, while prosecutors allege he “actively solicited” classified material and put lives at risk.

Originally published as UK Court rejects Julian Assange US extradition appeal