The fate of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange hangs in the balance as judges in Britain are set to rule on whether he will be extradited to the U.S. or allowed to appeal his extradition. The decision will be handed down on Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. GMT, with a full appeal hearing possible if the High Court rules in Assange’s favor.
Assange, who is facing espionage charges for publishing classified U.S. military documents 14 years ago, has not yet been tried in a U.S. courtroom as he fled the country. If extradited, he could face up to 175 years in an American maximum-security prison.
The charges against Assange were brought by the Trump administration’s Justice Department over WikiLeaks’ publication of cables leaked by U.S. Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning. Supporters fear an unfavorable ruling on Tuesday could result in his extradition and trial in Alexandria, Virginia.
Assange’s legal team has been on their final U.K. legal challenge to stop his extradition, arguing that his prosecution sets a dangerous precedent intended to criminalize journalism. The case has drawn attention from press freedom groups and the public, with many closely following the developments.
Stay tuned for the latest updates on this developing story as the High Court’s ruling could have significant implications for the future of press freedom and journalistic integrity.
