As British courts have consistently done, the British High Court of Justice bent over backwards for the U.S. government, and gave Julian Assange and his legal arguments short shrift. From Kevin Gosztola at the dissenter.org:
While granting WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange a limited appeal against extradition, the US government was encouraged by the UK High Court to submit “assurances” that could prevent further proceedings.
The British High Court of Justice partially granted WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange’s request to appeal and delayed his extradition to the United States. However, the U.S. government was given an opportunity to provide “assurances” that may result in his extradition in the next months.
Assange was granted permission to appeal [PDF] on the grounds that extradition may violate his right to freedom of expression. The court accepted that he may face prejudice due to the fact that he is a non-U.S. citizen, and that the prosecution may expose him to the death penalty, which is barred under extradition law.
But the court refused to allow Assange to appeal on the grounds that the U.S. is prosecuting him for his “political opinions,” that extradition would violate his right to a fair trial, and that extradition would violate his right to life or expose him to cruel and inhuman treatment.
The court rejected Assange’s request to include “fresh evidence” related to alleged evidence that CIA Director Mike Pompeo and other CIA officials sketched out plans to kidnap or kill Assange while he wa
Maybe bent over forwards?
If they think that people who love the truth will be scared off or that citizen journalists will pack it up and go home they need to think again.
Making a martyr out of JA won’t end well for them either.