'Weasel Words': Julian Assange's Wife Slams US Assurances to UK
Common DreamsApr 16
US Provides Assurances to UK Court Over Assange Extradition
The Facts
The US met a Tuesday deadline to submit assurances requested by the British High Court to move forward with the extradition case of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, setting up a May 20 hearing to determine if he can be sent to America.
Within a diplomatic letter sent by its embassy in London to the British Foreign Office, the US stated that the Australian citizen would not face the death penalty should he be extradited.
The Spin
Establishment-critical narrative
These so-called assurances have done nothing to ease the worries over its prosecution against Assange, serving only as a standard guarantee against the death penalty. Free speech defenders should be deeply concerned over its potential legal implications as the Biden administration is likely to present the First Amendment as an unprotected right under the Espionage Act.
Pro-establishment narrative
Julian Assange is no journalist. Not only did he publish millions of stolen classified documents, he indirectly helped repressive regimes in Iran and China, as well as terror organizations such as al-Qaida, by disseminating that material. Such actions put US soldiers and sources in extreme danger – the US is right to after Assange as they deem fit.
Nerd narrative
There's a 50% chance that Julian Assange will not be extradited to the US before 2025, according to the Metaculus prediction community.