From the Liveblog of
Thursday, June 13, 2019
UK minister signs extradition order for Assange, says court will decide his fate
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleLONDON — British Home Secretary Sajid Javid says he has signed an extradition order that would send imprisoned WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to the United States if British courts favor the move.
Javid tells BBC radio Thursday courts will decide whether Assange must face espionage charges in the US.
Assange is scheduled to face an extradition hearing Friday on the US request. A decision is likely months away.
He is serving a 50-week sentence in London’s Belmarsh Prison for jumping bail in Britain.
The 47-year-old was too ill to take part in a recent hearing. He is expected to participate in Friday’s proceeding via video link.
The US plan to prosecute him for espionage has raised free speech issues. Assange asserts he is a journalist shielded by the First Amendment.
— AP
The Times of Israel Community.