Julian Assange Appears in London Court for U.S. Extradition Hearing

LONDON — Julian Assange, the embattled founding father of WikiLeaks, made his first look in a London courtroom in months on Monday, as an evidentiary listening to started in his U.S. extradition case, an important second in a chronic authorized battle that has spanned a decade.

Within the hearings, Mr. Assange and his legal professionals will argue towards his extradition on the American expenses, which accuse Mr. Assange of violating the Espionage Act. The fees stem from the publishing of secret army and diplomatic paperwork by WikiLeaks in 2010.

The proceedings, that are anticipated to final till early October, had been delayed for months due to the coronavirus pandemic. Mr. Assange, 49, final appeared in a London courtroom in February, earlier than the listening to was pushed again.

On Monday, Mr. Assange, cleanshaven and sporting a darkish swimsuit and lightweight shirt, appeared on the Central Prison Court, often called the Previous Bailey, in central London. His legal professionals stated that it was the primary time they’d seen him in particular person in six months. When requested whether or not he would consent to be extradited to america, Mr. Assange replied merely, “No.”

His legal professionals have framed the case as politically motivated, stating in courtroom paperwork that Mr. Assange could be unable to obtain a good trial in america.

Mr. Assange was arrested in London final yr when Ecuador abruptly revoked his asylum and expelled him from the nation’s embassy after he had spent seven years holed up in the constructing in the British capital.

The U.S. expenses stem from 2010 and allege that Mr. Assange conspired with Chelsea Manning, a former Military intelligence analyst, to hack right into a Pentagon pc community, and that he then started publishing the key paperwork.

Ms. Manning was convicted at a court-martial in 2013 of leaking the recordsdata. Mr. Assange was finally indicted by america on 17 counts of violating the Espionage Act for his alleged function in soliciting, acquiring, and generally publishing materials that the U.S. authorities deemed to be labeled — all actions that reporters protecting nationwide safety points do routinely.

From the beginning, the fees towards Mr. Assange have raised profound First Modification points as a result of his actions are tough to tell apart in a legally significant manner from these of conventional information organizations. It will be unprecedented in American regulation for such exercise to end result in prison convictions, so press freedom advocates have denounced the fees towards him and have been watching the case intently.

In June, the Division of Justice introduced a brand new indictment to supersede the fees towards Mr. Assange, increasing the allegations that he had conspired with members of hacking organizations and had sought to recruit programmers to launch labeled data to WikiLeaks. Throughout the listening to, Mark Summers, a lawyer for Mr. Assange, known as the adjustment “essentially unfair,” however the decide stated that the listening to would proceed.

Mr. Assange faces as much as 175 years in jail if discovered responsible on all counts.

The road outdoors the central London courtroom was crowded on Monday with dozens of supporters banging drums and waving indicators with messages together with “Don’t Extradite Assange” and “Free Assange.”

Vivienne Westwood, a British clothier who has lengthy been an outspoken supporter of Mr. Assange, was additionally in attendance, sporting a soccer jersey and cleats.

“For 10 years, the courts have been enjoying soccer with Julian’s head,” Ms. Westwood stated. “Sweden and the U.Ok. have been gaming the regulation, shifting the aim posts, holding Julian Assange for America for 10 years, ready for America to get its act collectively.”

Mr. Assange’s father, John Shipton, additionally spoke to reporters outdoors the courtroom, demanding that the extradition to america be blocked.

“The administration of justice right here is enfeebled,” he stated, criticizing Britain for its cooperation with the American extradition try. “We insist upon the truthful administration of regulation, and we insist that our nationwide boundaries be revered, and that may save Julian.”

Charlie Savage contributed reporting from Washington.