US submits 'weasel word' assurances to ensure Assange is extradited

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: News websites
17 Apr 2024 08:06
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The United States has provided the High Court in London with assurances that could prevent Assange from continuing his legal pursuit, resulting in his extradition.

A protester stands in front of the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, Thursday, April 11, 2024, where WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange was arrested five years ago. (AP)

The United States submitted assurances to the London High Court in its latest attempt to prevent Julian Assange from obtaining his right to appeal against extradition, a move dismissed by Assange's wife, who dubbed the documents as mere "weasel words".

In late March, Assange was given the chance to fight against extradition only if the US was not able to provide additional "satisfactory assurances" regarding the WikiLeaks founder's ability to invoke the protections of the First Amendment of the US Constitution and his potential exposure to the death penalty.

According to The Guardian, this includes assurances “that the applicant [Assange] is permitted to rely on the first amendment, that the applicant is not prejudiced at trial, including sentence, by reason of his nationality, that he is afforded the same first amendment [free speech] protections as a United States citizen, and that the death penalty is not imposed."

In this context, the US assurances stated that Assange is not being prosecuted because of nationality, that he can seek the First Amendment but only under the authority of US courts, and that the death penalty would not be sought by the US or imposed on Assange.

If the London court found the assurances sufficient, then Assange would have no choice but to be extradited to the US. Then, his only hope would be reliance on human rights organization's intervention.

Assange's wife, Stella, responded to the US' latest move, slamming the country's act as "weasel words" disguised in diplomatic endeavors.

In a post on X, she said: "It makes no undertaking to withdraw the prosecution's previous assertion that Julian has no First Amendment rights because he is not a U.S citizen. Instead, the US has limited itself to blatant weasel words claiming that Julian can "seek to raise" the First Amendment if extradited."

"The diplomatic note does nothing to relieve our family's extreme distress about his future -- his grim expectation of spending the rest of his life in isolation in US prison for publishing award-winning journalism," she added, calling on the Biden administration to drop its act and revoke its pursuit.

The integrity and worth of the assurances will be examined in the next scheduled hearing on May 20. However, Assange's legal team found that US assurances in similar cases were nothing but useless.

The weasel words in question: https://t.co/JzlcI8Srci pic.twitter.com/8apz5nCoab
— Stella Assange #FreeAssangeNOW (@Stella_Assange) April 16, 2024

Australia defends its national

Last week, US President Joe Biden revealed that he is considering a request from Australia to halt the prosecution of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, as reported by the White House press pool.

"We're considering it," Biden responded to inquiries regarding Australia's plea to cease the US government's pursuit of Assange.

This came after Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said it was time that Assange "was brought home," as the Australian citizen faces his last chance in the UK to prevent his extradition to the United States.

Talking to ABC Radio, Albanese pointed out that he addressed the issue at the "highest levels" with Washington and the UK.

"I have put the view very clearly, privately, as I have publicly, that enough is enough. It's time Julian Assange was brought home. I've engaged with his legal team on a regular basis as well, on a strategy to try to get through this and come out the other side in Mr. Assange's interest," the Prime Minister said during the interview.