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WIKILEAKS FOUNDER JULIAN Assange has lost his legal battle to overturn a British arrest warrant against him, and with it his hopes of freely leaving Ecuador’s London embassy where he has been holed up since 2012.
In a court in the British capital, Judge Emma Arbuthnot rejected his lawyers’ argument that upholding the warrant was no longer in the public interest.
“I find arrest is a proportionate response even though Mr Assange has restricted his own freedom for a number of years,” she said.
Assange was awaiting extradition to Sweden over a 2010 investigation into claims of rape and sexual assault when he breached his bail conditions to seek refuge in the embassy.
Sweden dropped its investigation last year, but the British warrant for his arrest for jumping bail remains, meaning he would be detained as soon as he steps outside.
The judge rejected claims that Assange was suffering from his confinement, saying: “Mr Assange’s health problems could be much worse.”
She had last week rejected claims by Assange’s team that the warrant was rendered null-and-void because there was no longer any underlying crime.
Assange says he fears his arrest could lead to his extradition to the United States over WikiLeaks’ publication of secret US military documents and diplomatic cables in 2010.
US Attorney General Jeff Sessions last year said his arrest was a “priority”.
But the judge rejected this, adding:
He appears to consider himself above the normal rules of law and wants justice only if it goes in his favour.
Gareth Peirce, one of Assange’s lawyers, told AFP it would be possible to appeal against the judge’s decision, but she said this had not yet been decided.
‘Akin to imprisonment’
Assange wrote on Twitter before the hearing that his latest legal argument hinged on an alleged “cover-up” by the British government to keep him detained.
He highlighted newspaper report which quoted emails sent by Britain’s Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to Swedish counterparts in 2012, urging them not to drop their application for a European arrest warrant.
In the emails, a CPS lawyer apparently commented on a 2012 article saying that Sweden was dropping the case by writing: “Don’t you dare get cold feet!”
Swedish prosecutors told the CPS in 2013 that they “felt obliged” to lift the warrant, but only announced last year that it had finally been dropped.
The CPS also admitted it destroyed emails relating to the case after the lawyer handling the British response retired in 2014.
Ecuador’s foreign ministry said it wants to reach a solution with Britain that satisfies both sides and respects Assange’s human rights.
Assange’s lawyer Mark Summers said his client had been living in conditions “akin to imprisonment” and his “psychological health” has deteriorated and was “in serious peril”.
The court heard that the 46-year-old was suffering from a bad tooth, a frozen shoulder and depression.
Assange only very rarely emerges onto the balcony of the embassy building, citing concerns for his personal safety, but he frequently takes part in media conferences and campaigns via video link.
Ecuador in December granted citizenship to the Australian-born Assange, and asked Britain to recognise him as a diplomat in an unsuccessful attempt to provide him with the immunity that could see him walk free.
But London swiftly rejected the move.
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What is the difference between journalists and Julian Assange? He publishes newsworthy information about politicans and public figures just as journalists do. The only difference that I can see is journalists are allowed to publish leaked confidential materials and information.
@Roddy Reagan: Julian is telling the truth..100% record never been found to release false publications.
@Tomas: very true and that is not something the modern mainstream press can say about themselves.
@Clever Jake: well your just wrong there.
@Clever Jake: Fox is cringeworthy and so self evidently conservative same with Breitbart. As for Infowars, a lot of what Alex Jones says does happen to be true but his sensationalist methods of reporting means he’s taken by most as a laughing stock.
@Roddy Reagan: The difference between him and journalists is they don’t skip bail. That is all the British want him for, nothing to do with publishing information. If the Americans wish to go after him once he is in British custody then so be it, the independent British Judiciary will decide his fate not politicians.
All this for suffering because he told the truth I really do pity the man.
@Eddie Stobart: and skipped bail..his suffering is self imposed..he can walk out anytime he wants.
@Fake Avast: So you think he is above the law and can ignore it when ever it suits?
If Assange had released emails belonging to GOP and Priebus he would be collecting the Nobel peace prize.
We live in very interesting times,
He’s actually comparing an embassy to a prison! Let him check out a prison and see if he feels the same.
@Deborah Behan: depends on prison location i imagine. Norway do a great prison service
@Deborah Behan: Well it is comparative in the sense that he can’t leave without being reprimanded.
Not unexpected from the currupt and bought for British judical system when u hv millions spent after ten years on the chilcot report and u have liar Blair at large.
@noBankAccBertie: Assange locked up, while war criminals walk free. British injustice system for one of the world’s must hypocritical societies.
@prop joe: If Blair was a war criminal it would be up to the International Criminal Court in The Hague to bring charges against him not the British Judicial System. They haven’t so you are wrong, he is not even suspected of war crimes and what you think of him is of no account.
@Richard Keogh: What do you mean “IF” blair was a war criminal himself and Bush, should be in guantanamo bay.
We have our very own Julian assange , here in ireland Joe Doocey, who is in jail on trumped up charges becaused he uncovered the corruption within the Gardai and the judiciary but thejournal wont cover his story…
Socialist revolution in England!
THE ISSUE OF JULIAN ASSANGE IS SIMPLE…
Shut every Presstitute paper like the London Times!
Immediately take a billion pounds sterling from the bank of England and give it to Assange Wikileaks to spread more truth!
Arrest every presstitute journalist and place them in concentration camps until they decide to report truth not lies! That may take a very long time for these indoctrinated presstitutes of the press!
@Felix Quigley: what is with socialists and their infatuation with concentration camps.
@Felix Quigley:The aluminum foil from your hat has leaked into your skull. Wikileaks is purely a Russian state actor bent on weakening the west. Russia is an undemocratic thugocracy, not socialist state.
@Philip G Roark: another tin foil ediot….yes blame the russian, typical summing up.
@Derek Durkin: You got that wrong. This is war and these Presstitutes of the press are preparing a bloody dictatorship which if you are lucky will be prison AND concentration camps…that is what crucifixation of Assange is about
I thought the labour party in britain would do something to support assange. are they afraid of MI6 or something?
What is he guilty of? Please dont say rape, have some more respect for yourself.
@CryptoSteve: skipping bail.
@GoodByeMaryLooHelloSue: bail for what charge?
I actually read that as skipping ball. Scratching head the last 5 mins.
Without Julian Assange and WikiLeaks Trump would never have won the US election.
President Trump should offer him asylum.
His case is exceptional as every Western security service is after him for making them look foolish and stupid.
@John003: I hope Trump offers Putin’s lackey asylum. It would seal the impeachment of the Orange fascist.
I hate that it doesn’t shock me that this so called judge can’t see this for what it is, a witch hunt by the FBI/CIA.
There is sufficient evidence of extraordinary circumstance to cancel the arrest warrant (for a minor offence of skipping bail, for a dropped charge too) and let him seek asylum.
This outcome is about bitterness and arrogance of the judges in my view after the UK system of laws were defeated by a man and now the judicial system needs to be seen in control when they are not.
If the extradition is no longer valid then how can the warrant???
He’s a tool of Putin. Hope he rots in prison.
Makes a comparision to the Daniel Ellsberg and The Pentagon Papers issue
https://soundcloud.com/dartmouth-films-ltd/john-pilger-on-wikileaks-julian-assange-and-jeremy-corbyn
What IS the Labour Party doing?
I had to do a double take on the photo – thought it was Helen Mirren when I was scrolling through the articles.
Totally gonna fry him if he moves. Love to see an epic smuggle, rolled in a carpet and shipped off to Ecuador.
have your say