The case against the WikiLeaks founder, who is accused of obtaining and publishing secret military and diplomatic documents, was delayed in February because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Julian Assange, the embattled founder of WikiLeaks, made his first appearance in a London court in months on Monday, as an evidentiary hearing began in his U. S. extradition case, a crucial moment in a prolonged legal struggle that has spanned a decade. In the hearings, Mr. Assange and his lawyers will argue against his extradition on the American charges, which accuse Mr. Assange of violating the Espionage Act. The charges stem from the publishing of secret military and diplomatic documents by WikiLeaks in 2010. The proceedings, which are expected to last until early October, had been delayed for months because of the coronavirus pandemic. Mr. Assange,49, last appeared in a London courtroom in February, before the hearing was pushed back. On Monday, Mr. Assange, cleanshaven and wearing a dark suit and light shirt, appeared at the Central Criminal Court, known as the Old Bailey, in central London. His lawyers said that it was the first time they had seen him in person in six months. When asked whether he would consent to be extradited to the United States, Mr. Assange replied simply, “No.” His lawyers have framed the case as politically motivated, stating in court documents that Mr.
