Julian Assange’s lawyers have dismissed Scott Morrison’s claim that he could return to Australia if the last legal effort to extradite him back to US intelligence failed, warning the United States can immediately begin new legal action here.
There are fears that the United States could reopen attempts to extradite Mr. Assange from Australia if he ever returns home to his native country and that could leave him facing charges again of up to 175 years in prison.
Julian Could Be Extradited Back To The US
Australian authorities have also confirmed to news.com.au that there is nothing in the US extradition agreement to prevent the US from repatriating him when he arrives in Australia.
A long-running legal saga related to the involvement of the founder of WikiLeaks 10 years ago in the publication of secret missions and files of the 2010 wars in Afghanistan and Iraq including a US military video showing an Apache attack helicopter killing civilians.
A British court ruled this week that Mr Assange would not be extradited to the United States after a judge found that his mental health was too weak to commit suicide if he was sent overseas to face criminal charges.
But the United States has immediately confirmed that it will appeal the decision, in a last-ditch attempt to force Mr Assange to face the US justice system.
PM Scott Morrison’s Statement
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Tuesday that Australia could simply return home “like any other Australian person” if the US appeal against the decision failed.
“Well, the justice system is making its way and we’re not a party to that,’’ Mr Morrison said.
“And like any Australian person, they are given diplomatic support and should, you know, if the appeal fails, it is clear that you will be able to return to Australia like any other Australian. So that consular support continues to be offered and that’s the situation as we understand it right now.”
But Mr Assange’s lawyers told News.com.au that Australia should push the US to drop the case altogether.
“It is not enough for the Prime Minister to simply say he is free to return home if he wins the application,” said attorney Jennifer Robinson.
“The Australian government should raise concerns about Mr Assange’s well-being as a result of the judge’s findings and support our bail application. The Australian government must also make submissions to the US to close the case, given the judge’s decision on his life and freedom of speech, to ensure that Mr Assange can return home safely. ”
Where Is Mr Assange Now?
The verdict is already a vague victory for free speech lawyers, and Judge Vanessa Baraitser well supports all American arguments that Mr. Assange will defend a fair trial in the United States.
His legal team has also confirmed they are seeking bail so the Australian can be reunited with his young family while that legal appeal is heard.
“We welcome this important decision from the UK court to bar Mr Assange’s extradition to the US and that the judge has agreed with our arguments that his extradition would be oppressive,’’ Ms Robinson told news.com.au.
“However, it is not over yet: the US government has indicated they will appeal. We are now seeking bail for Mr Assange, pending any appeal, so that he can finally be reunited with his young family, have time to recover from this decade-long ordeal and the harsh prison conditions he has faced, and be protected from the COVID outbreak in his prison.”
He will remain at London’s Belmarsh prison until Wednesday, when the application for him to be released on bail until the appeal is heard will be heard.
In September, a British Court heard Assange was preparing to take his own life, in expert evidence provided by a leading psychiatrist.
“He’s made various plans and undergone various preparations,” Professor Michael Kopelman told a UK court, revealing the 49-year-old had confessed his plans to a Catholic priest, written a will and drafted farewell letters to friends and family.
“Various preparations are in place,” the King’s College Emeritus Professor said, adding that Assange’s ideations could be triggered by the “imminence of extradition and or an actual extradition.”
Labor’s legal affairs spokesman Mark Dreyfus said the case should be dropped and had dragged on for long enough.
“Given his ill health it is now time for this long drawn out case against Julian Assange to be brought to an end,’’ he said.
“While the US has the right to appeal the court’s decision, we call on the Morrison Government to do what it can to draw a line under this matter and encourage the US Government to bring this matter to a close.”
