Julian Assange, wanted by the United States for one of the world
LONDON (Reuters) – Julian Assange, wanted by the United States for one of the world’s biggest ever security leaks, looked unfazed as he sat in a London court on Thursday, leafing through a book as he waited for proceedings to begin.
Assange studied the pages of “History of The National Security State” by U. S. writer Gore Vidal, angling the book so that reporters in the courtroom and a packed public gallery could see it clearly.
Barely four hours earlier, the WikiLeaks founder had been carried head-first by British police officers out of the Ecuadorean Embassy in London where he had sought refuge nearly seven years earlier.
As Assange sat and read, Judge Michael Snow considered calling security to locate Assange’s lawyers, who were late for the start of the hearing.
When he entered the courtroom, the Australian-born activist – wearing a black jacket and black shirt, a hero to some for exposing state secrets, and a villain to others who say he endangers security – gave a thumbs-up to his supporters.
He waved again on his departure.
In the intervening 40 minutes, he heard the confirmation of U.
