US Launches Appeal Against Assange Extradition Decision

The United States government has launched an appeal against a UK court's decision to refuse to extradite Wikileaks founder Julian Assange.

Australian citizen Assange, who is aged 50, was indicted by the US Department of Justice in 2019 over his alleged involvement in the acquisition and publication of thousands of classified US diplomatic and military documents.

The leaked documents related to the wars between the United States and Afghanistan, and between the United States and Iraq. 

The Trump administration sought Assange's extradition to the US, where he faces 17 charges under the Espionage Act and one charge under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. 

In Westminster Magistrate's court in January, District Judge Vanessa Baraitser blocked Assange's extradition on mental health grounds. 

Baraitser made her judgement after hearing from Assange's lawyer that the Wikileaks founder's risk of suicide would be "imminent the moment extradition becomes likely."

In July, Britain's High Court granted the United States government permission to lodge an appeal against Baraitser's January ruling. 

Now, the Biden administration has started a legal appeal to get Assange extradited to the United States and is arguing that earlier assessments of Assange's mental health were wrong.

James Lewis QC, representing the US, told the Lord Chief Justice and Lord Justice Holroyde today that Judge Baraitser had been misled by As ..

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