Julian Assange: Priti Patel signs order to extradite Wikileaks founder to US to face espionage charges

The UK government confirmed the plans on Friday

Priti Patel has approved the extradition of Julian Assange to the US where he will face espionage charges, the Home Office has confirmed. While Patel has given a green light, the WikiLeaks co-founder's legal team is hoping to launch a cross-appeal that would restart the clock on a renewed legal battle in the courts. Assange had been residing at the Ecuadorian embassy in London for seven years before breaching bail on an extradition order to face sexual offence charges in Sweden, which were ultimately dropped in 2019, and has remained in Belmarsh high-security prison in London ever since. He now has 14 days to launch his appeal. A spokesperson for the Home Office added in a statement: “On 17 June, following consideration by both the Magistrates Court and High Court, the extradition of Mr Julian Assange to the US was ordered. Mr Assange retains the normal 14-day right to appeal.

“In this case, the UK courts have not found that it would be oppressive, unjust or an abuse of process to extradite Mr Assange. Nor have they found that extradition would be incompatible with his human rights, including his right to a fair trial and to freedom of expression, and that whilst in the US he will be treated appropriately, including in relation to his health.”

It went on to qualify that any extradition order must be signed by the secretary of state and that requests are only sent to government officials "once a judge decides it can proceed after considering various aspects of the case." The US has been seeking to put the Australian-born writer, activist and leaker on trial since he published a series of leaks from army intelligence regarding wrongdoings by the military and government officials in Iraq and Afghanistan back in 2010.

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