Biden Ponders Australia's Call to Drop Assange Charges: Extradition Halted, WikiLeaks Founder Fights US Prosecution
US President Joe Biden is considering Australia's request to drop the prosecution of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.
The Australian parliament, led by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, passed a measure calling for Assange's return to Australia.
Assange, a 52-year-old Australian, is currently in the UK facing US extradition on criminal charges related to the leaking of military records.
Assange denies the charges, arguing that his actions were journalistic in nature.
Biden was asked about the issue on Wednesday and responded, "We're considering it." The Australian parliament passed the measure in February.
Mr. Albanese, an Australian MP, urged for an end to Julian Assange's extradition case in the UK courts.
Assange, 52, is wanted by the US for publishing classified information.
The extradition was temporarily halted due to concerns over the death penalty.
The High Court will evaluate the US response at the end of May. Assange's wife Stella called on President Biden to drop the charges, while WikiLeaks editor-in-chief Kristinn Hrafnsson labeled the extradition attempt as politically motivated.
US prosecutors aim to try Julian Assange, the founder of Wikileaks, on 18 charges, primarily under the Espionage Act.
These charges stem from the release of confidential US military records and diplomatic messages concerning the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Wikileaks was established by Assange in 2006 and has published over ten million documents, many of which are confidential or restricted reports related to war, spying, and corruption.
Assange, a 52-year-old Australian, is currently in the UK facing US extradition on criminal charges related to the leaking of military records.
Assange denies the charges, arguing that his actions were journalistic in nature.
Biden was asked about the issue on Wednesday and responded, "We're considering it." The Australian parliament passed the measure in February.
Mr. Albanese, an Australian MP, urged for an end to Julian Assange's extradition case in the UK courts.
Assange, 52, is wanted by the US for publishing classified information.
The extradition was temporarily halted due to concerns over the death penalty.
The High Court will evaluate the US response at the end of May. Assange's wife Stella called on President Biden to drop the charges, while WikiLeaks editor-in-chief Kristinn Hrafnsson labeled the extradition attempt as politically motivated.
US prosecutors aim to try Julian Assange, the founder of Wikileaks, on 18 charges, primarily under the Espionage Act.
These charges stem from the release of confidential US military records and diplomatic messages concerning the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Wikileaks was established by Assange in 2006 and has published over ten million documents, many of which are confidential or restricted reports related to war, spying, and corruption.
