Joe Biden is “considering” a request to drop the prosecution of Julian Assange after judges ruled that the WikiLeaks founder could have grounds to appeal his extradition to the United States.
Mr Assange, who was charged with multiple counts of espionage in 2019, has been imprisoned in HMP Belmarsh for five years as of Thursday, while an extradition battle plays out in the courts.
Earlier it was reported that the US government could offer the Australian a plea deal, having repeatedly argued that he compromised intelligence sources around the world when WikiLeaks released almost half a million documents on the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
Asked about a request from Australia that he end the prosecution of Mr Assange, the US president told reporters at the White House on Wednesday: “We’re considering it.”
In March, the High Court dismissed most of the legal arguments against Mr Assange’s extradition. However, it said the Biden administration must issue various assurances – including that Mr Assange would not face the death penalty.
The White House has until early next week to give those assurances which will be followed by a final hearing in mid-May. Otherwise, the judges ruled that Mr Assange would have grounds to appeal.
Speaking after the ruling, Mr Assange’s wife, Stella, dismissed the idea that the US could issue “so-called diplomatic assurances”.
She told Sky News: “I find the decision bizarre. The courts have identified three major obstacles to Julian’s extradition but they’ve asked for a political intervention from the US Government to address these issues.
“There is no assurance that the US can give that will keep Julian safe from what he is exposed to.”
“If he is taken to the United States he will be placed under conditions of extreme isolation which could – and will – drive him to commit suicide,” she added.
A British judge ruled in 2021 that Mr Assange should not be extradited because of the risk he could commit suicide in a US prison, but this was overturned on appeal.
There were signs last month that the US stance was beginning to soften amid reports that officials were drawing up a plea deal with Mr Assange’s lawyers.
Possible mishandling charge
Under the terms of the agreement, he would plead guilty to mishandling classified information, The Wall Street Journal reported. The charge carries a lighter sentence than espionage.
Mr Assange would be able to plead remotely, removing the need for him to appear in a US court, and time served in Britain would count towards his sentence – potentially meaning his release could be imminent.
Barry Pollack, an attorney acting for Mr Assange based in New York, has cast doubt on whether his client would plead guilty to the charges.
As recently as February, the US justice department claimed that information released by Mr Assange via WikiLeaks had compromised intelligence sources across the globe, many of whom had “disappeared”.
His lawyers argue that he has been the subject of a politically motivated prosecution by the US in retaliation for publishing embarrassing state secrets.
In February, Anthony Albanese, the Australian Prime Minister, backed a motion calling for the return of Mr Assange to his homeland ahead of his hearing at the High Court.
Declaring “enough is enough”, Mr Albanese said he had raised the case “at the highest levels” in Britain and the US.
“It’s not up to Australia to interfere in the legal processes of other countries, but it is appropriate for us to put our very strong view that those countries need to take into account the need for this to be concluded,” he said, after the motion passed Australia’s lower house.
“Regardless of where people stand, this thing cannot just go on and on and on indefinitely.”
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