In a highly anticipated legal battle, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange’s appeal against his extradition to the United States will commence on July 9, according to a judicial spokesperson. The two-day hearing will take place at the High Court in London, providing Assange with a critical opportunity to challenge the UK court’s previous ruling that approved his extradition.
The 52-year-old Australian publisher had won his bid to challenge the extradition ruling last month, setting the stage for this upcoming hearing. Assange’s legal team, led by lawyer Edward Fitzgerald, has acknowledged the “unambiguous” assurances from the US government that he would not face the death penalty. However, they have raised concerns about whether Assange can rely on the First Amendment’s protections for freedom of speech and press during his potential trial.
Representing the US government, lawyer James Lewis has argued that Assange’s conduct was “simply unprotected” by the First Amendment, as it does not apply to the publication of illegally obtained national defense information that could put innocent sources at grave and imminent risk of harm.
Assange has been detained in the high-security Belmarsh prison in London since April 2019, after spending seven years in the Ecuadorian embassy to avoid extradition to Sweden, where he faced sexual assault allegations that were eventually dropped.
The United States has accused Assange of publishing approximately 700,000 confidential documents related to US military and diplomatic activities starting in 2010. He is facing charges under the 1917 Espionage Act, which his supporters argue could result in a sentence of up to 175 years in prison.
The upcoming hearing at the High Court in London will be crucial in Assange’s long-running legal battle as he seeks to prevent his extradition to the United States and the potential consequences he could face.
