UK judge to rule on US extradition for WikiLeaks’ whistleblower Julian Assange
- Assange has attracted the support of high-profile figures, including the dissident Chinese artist Ai Weiwei and American actress Pamela Anderson
- Stella Moris, Assange’s partner and the mother of his two sons, has appealed to US President Donald Trump to grant a pardon to Assange
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange will find out on Monday whether he can be extradited from the United Kingdom to the United States to face espionage charges over the publication of secret American military documents.
District Judge Vanessa Baraitser is due to deliver her decision at London’s Old Bailey courthouse at 10am GMT on Monday. If she grants the request, then Britain’s home secretary, Priti Patel, would make the final decision.
Whichever side loses is expected to appeal, which could lead to additional years of legal wrangling.
However, there is a possibility that outside forces may come into play that could instantly end the decade-long saga.
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WikiLeaks founder Assange indicted under US Espionage Act, faces up to 170 years in prison
Stella Moris, Assange’s partner and the mother of his two sons, has appealed to US President Donald Trump via Twitter to grant a pardon to Australian Assange before he leaves office on January 20.