Stella Moris, girlfriend of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, Kristinn Hrafnsson, editor-in-chief of WikiLeaks, and Joseph Farrell, senior editor, arrive for a hearing at Westminster Magistrates Court in London on Jan. 6, 2021, where Assange’s lawyers asked the court to grant bail.
A British judge announced Wednesday (Jan. 6) that he had denied WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange’s request for bail on the grounds that Assange could abscond if granted bail. Meanwhile, the U.S. has renewed its request for extradition.
Reuters reports that on Monday a British court refused to extradite Assange to the U.S., followed by Assange’s request for bail. For more than eight years, Assange first hid in the Ecuadorian embassy in London, then was arrested and imprisoned.
District Judge Vanessa Baraitser said at the Jan. 6 hearing, “There is sufficient evidence to believe that if Mr. Assange were released on bail today, he would not comply with the court’s proceedings.” “Assange does not believe the case has been won, and the outcome is not yet known.”
For its part, the U.S. Justice Department said it would continue to seek the extradition of Assange, who faces 18 criminal charges of violating espionage laws and conspiring to attack government computer systems.
Assange’s girlfriend, Stella Moris, said the judge’s decision to deny bail was very disappointing, and she asked the U.S. to pardon Assange and said she would appeal against the U.K.’s denial of bail.
Assange, born in Australia, is 49 years old. His admirers see him as a hero for exposing abuses of power in the United States; his critics see him as a dangerous figure who undermines the security of Western countries.
WikiLeaks has published hundreds of thousands of classified U.S. diplomatic cables, mostly important information on U.S. assessments of heads of state, ranging from Russian President Vladimir Putin to members of the Saudi royal family.
Clair Dobbin, a lawyer representing the U.S., said at the hearing that Assange has done everything he can to avoid extradition and that he may try to leave the U.K. to avoid legal sanctions, “As to whether Assange has the resources, ability and funds to travel to other countries, the court need not doubt that, nor should the court be under any illusion that other countries will provide protection for Assange. “
Dobbin said the court refused to extradite Assange just because “he has mental problems” a reason, this decision does not stand.
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