The Biden administration has pursued a case against Wikileaks founder Julian Assange with crimes under the Espionage Act, which some argue is a threat to journalism.
A British court on Tuesday ruled that the U.S. cannot extradite Julian Assange on espionage charges unless American officials assure that he will not face the death penalty for his alleged crimes.
“If assurances are not given then we will grant leave to appeal without a further hearing,” Judge Victoria Sharp said. “If assurances are given then we will give the parties an opportunity to make further submissions before we make a final decision on the application for leave to appeal.”
Judges Sharp and Jeremy Johnson argued that the U.S. must afford Assange, a 52-year-old Australian national, “the same First Amendment protections as a United States citizen and that the death penalty is not imposed.”
The judges rejected most of Assange’s appeals – six of nine he lodged, including allegations that his prosecution is political. The judges dismissed his claim, saying that while he “acted out of political conviction… it does not follow, however, that the request for his extradition is made on account of his political views.
