Julian Assange ready for US extradition, one of his lawyers suggests

[brooklynite]

Source: The Guardian

A lawyer for Julian Assange has indicated that the WikiLeaks founder is ready to face extradition to the US after Barack Obama commuted the sentence of US army whistleblower Chelsea Manning.

Assange has been holed up at the Ecuadorian embassy in London since claiming asylum there in 2012. He has refused to meet prosecutors in Sweden, where he remains wanted on an allegation of rape, which he denies. He has repeatedly said he fears extradition to the US on espionage charges if he leaves the embassy, though at the moment the only public extradition ruling against him comes from Sweden.

Assange welcomed Obama’s decision to free Manning, who passed 700,000 documents, videos, diplomatic cables and battlefield accounts to WikiLeaks. “Your courage and determination made the impossible possible,” Assange said in a statement thanking campaigners for their efforts to get her released.

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/media/2017/jan/18/focus-turns-to-julian-assange-after-us-decision-to-free-chelsea-manning

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Since he's not facing any US charges, there's really no reason to visit; maybe he could stop off in Sweden?

[BumRushDaShow]

1. Since he helped to torpedo Hillary

he's looking for his "payment" by obtaining asylum here in the U.S. courtesy of the Drumpf.

[msanthrope]

2. Nah....Sweden can have the first crack at the rapist. nt

[LaydeeBug]

3. We never said we were interested in extraditing him. He is just trying to get here. Gross

[DK504]

16. Trump will pardon him.

In 3...2...1....

[truebluegreen]

4. ...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/101462291

[brooklynite]

5. #90...

geek tragedy (66,519 posts)
90. VERY unreliable, discredited source

Burton also claimed that he had proof Obama was getting money from Russian criminals, and that "black Dems" committed massive voter fraud in 2008.

[truebluegreen]

10. ...

https://justice4assange.com/assange-case-fact-checker.html

Paragraph 3. Don't take their word for it; follow the links.

[LaydeeBug]

6. Damn! I stand corrected...he'll just get pardoned...aand a stipend of some sort. nt

[truebluegreen]

8. Yup. Timing is everything.

[joshcryer]

9. Ecuador has given over drug lords to the US.

If the US wanted Assange dragged out of their embassy, it would've happened years ago.

The question is whether Assange leaves the embassy to 1) face British dodging charges and 2) Swedish charges of rape.

The chances of that happening are ZERO. NADA. HE HAS NO COURAGE OR CONVICTIONS. He's a cowardly rapist trying to run out the clock.

[truebluegreen]

18. I don't think so.

I don't think you understand how much respect for the US has slipped in SA; the flap over the forcing down of Morales' plane reverberated far beyond the borders of Bolivia, just for one example.

[joshcryer]

20. It has nothing to do with "respect." The US pays big for people we want.

And Ecuador has shown no reluctance to take the payout.

The US doesn't want Assange and when the clock runs out on his rape charges he'll leave the embassy, and get "time served" on the dodging warrant charge.

[truebluegreen]

21. Ecuador has shown increasing reluctance

To be a US client state, and the asinine drug war is increasingly unpopular. Ecuador extradites drug lords, but releases 100s of drug mules.
But that isn't the point. Snowden was on his way to Ecuador when the US State Dept cancelled his passport and stranded him in Russia. Assange has been allowed to stay at the embassy for similar reasons--their actions in exposing US surveillance are appreciated.

[joshcryer]

7. Exactly. The US doesn't fucking want him. His statements are literally hollow.

If anything Manning protected his ass by not implicating him.

[LaydeeBug]

13. Trump will fly him here on AF1.

It's crazy...this.

[joshcryer]

14. Fly who?

Snowden is a dead man / lifer. Trump will not pull back on that.

edit: Assange isn't leaving the embassy until the rape charges expire. Because he's a cowardly rapist.

[ismnotwasm]

11. Oh hell no.

Now that's POS will go to Sweden, face charges--I don't know Swedish law, but I doubt he'll get time, then flounce over to the US asap to the welcome of morons who still thinks he's a hero. Jesus.

[randome]

12. Now he can claim that it was Trump who made the U.S. back off of him.

Except that the U.S. never said it wants him. His own country, Australia, doesn't want him. A classless twit all the way to the end.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]Precision and concision. That's the game.[/center][/font][hr]

[Denzil_DC]

15. If and when he leaves the embassy,

the first thing he'll face is charges for jumping UK bail (max. penalty 12 months in jail, in addition to the sureties his supporters have already sacrificed). Then Sweden will want his company. Anybody else will have to join the queue.

[hollowdweller]

17. Trump will pardon and make him part of his admin.

[randome]

22. Trump can't pardon someone for crimes committed in Sweden and the U.K.

[hr][font color="blue"][center]Precision and concision. That's the game.[/center][/font][hr]

[Hekate]

19. Possibly hoping for an audience in the Golden Tower and a parade in his honor