The High Court of England and Wales in a three-page decision rejected all eight grounds for appeal, opening Julian Assange up to extradition to the U.S.
The High Court at the Royal Courts of Justice. (David Castor/Wikimedia Commons)
By Joe Lauria
Special to Consortium News
A single judge on the High Court of England and Wales has rejected imprisoned WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange’s nearly year-old request to appeal the British decision to extradite him to the United States to stand trial on espionage and computer intrusion charges.
Assange’s legal team has one last recourse in the U.K. and has five days to request a hearing before the court.
Stella Assange, Assange’s wife, issued this statement on Thursday:
“On Tuesday next week my husband Julian Assange will make a renewed application for appeal to the High Court. The matter will then proceed to a public hearing before two new judges at the High Court and we remain optimistic that we will prevail and that Julian will not be extradited to the United States where he faces charges that could result in him spending the rest of his life in a maximum security prison for publishing true information that revealed war crimes committed by the U.S. government.”
Statement:
On Tuesday next week my husband Julian Assange will make a renewed application for appeal to the High Court. The matter will then proceed to a public hearing before two new judges at the High Court and we remain optimistic that we will prevail and that Julian will not…
— Stella Assange #FreeAssangeNOW (@Stella_Assange) June 8, 2023
The single judge on the court, Sir Jonathan Swift, issued the 3-page decision on Tuesday. It is not yet publicly available on the High Court’s website.
In December, Assange appealed to the European Court of Human Rights. The court could issue an emergency injunction to stop Assange’s extradition until it examines the case.
Assange initially won the case against extradition in the lower court based on his health and conditions of U.S. prisons. This was overturned by the High Court after the court accepted U.S. written assurances that Assange would not be mistreated in U.S. prisons.
An application from Assange to the U.K. Supreme Court to appeal that decision was not granted. In July last year Assange’s team filed a cross appeal to the High Court on eight grounds including that the prosecution was political and that it violated the U.S.-U.K. extradition treaty barring extradition for political offenses.
It was this application for appeal that Swift rejected 11 months later.
The reaction from press freedom groups was swift.
Intn'l Federation of Journalists: "The UK decision to allow the extradition of #Assange is vindictive and a real blow to media freedom"
Amnesty: "sends a chilling message to journalists the world over"
RSF: "implications for journalism around the world cannot be overstated" pic.twitter.com/HnYwfzvf6y
— WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) June 8, 2023
“It is absurd that a single judge can issue a three-page decision that could land Julian Assange in prison for the rest of his life and permanently impact the climate for journalism around the world,” said Rebecca Vincent, director of campaigns at Reporters Without Borders.
Joe Lauria is editor-in-chief of Consortium News and a former U.N. correspondent for The Wall Street Journal, Boston Globe, and numerous other newspapers, including The Montreal Gazette and The Star of Johannesburg. He was an investigative reporter for the Sunday Times of London, a financial reporter for Bloomberg News and began his professional work as a 19-year old stringer for The New York Times. He can be reached at [email protected] and followed on Twitter @unjoe
They treat him like Pol Pot or Eichmann!
RfK said he would free Julian from day #1.
To the sleeping’snowed’ white majority of Americans:
Mirror, Mirror on the wall….
Free Julian Assange. Please read starting from 8 comments posted below this reply, the 3 options argued for to accomplish Freedom for JA written by Mickrick and circulate if you can as if they are supported the attempt by the US to extradite Julian Assange can be STOPPE
Freedom for Julian will then be facilitated. But this will obviously require them to be much more widely read than at Consortium News as here for example there are about 9,000 readers only.
Clive Stafford Smith Tweeted-
The judge who just denied Julian Assange’s appeal against extradition to the US says his “Favourite clients were the security and intelligence agencies. ‘They take preparation and evidence-gathering seriously: a real commitment to getting things right.’”
My Reply-
Well so much for judicial impartiality. Justice does not exist in a capitalist society where everything is for sale including the rule of law. There is no greater crime than exposing this hypocrisy for which #JulianAssange is paying the price.
Clive Stafford Smith is a Human Rights Lawyer who testified for the defense at Assange’s Extradition trial in the UK in 2020. I’ll copy his Tweet before my reply.. sorry for any confusion but reading that made me almost as angry as the actual unjust and criminally provoked decision did. I felt the need to share… I am feeling hopeless and very, very angry.
Rebecca Vincent’s statement is on the mark. It’s not just about Julian Assange that the US is interested.
It’s about striking fear into all journalists that would expose its conduct in war. Julian will be it’s poster child if appeals in his behalf are unsuccessful. Britain
is subservient to the US and this isn’t good.
US/UK = birds of the same nefarious feather…
As Stella Assange said: ‘Julian is not the criminal, he is the victim’.
Sunak is currently in the USA, receiving his orders from the great retardo. The UK and the other five eyes fan club are all beholden and under the complete control of the USA, they are not independent, sovereign nations they are puppet States.
As Putin has said, why bother talking to the Ukrainian government when the decisions are made in Washington. Same with Assange, pointless talking with western governments, the decisions are made by Washington. Prove me wrong, please. Are there any backbones or brains left in the West outside of the great hegemon ?
The US’ much-vaunted respect for ‘freedom and democracy’ is currently on display in the re-visiting of the USS Liberty saga.
May the high court all rot in hell. You can tell they are taking orders directly from the neocons in Washington who will not allow any legality to deprive them of retribution against Julian for exposing their many crimes against humanity. How they imagine committing another crime against humanity, this time against Julian Assange, is going to burnish their ever-waning reputation in the world is beyond any rationality. They are pure evil incarnate. And I speak as an American citizen. I despise them.
Time for Albanese to extract the digit, to actually stand up for Assange in the name of truth, justice, human rights, freedom of the press and democracy.
Things that would appear to be anathema to successive US administrations; as is apparently obvious in their continual cover-up of war crimes and the pardoning of those who committed these crimes.
Doesn’t matter where you live, let Albanese know it’s time for him to grow up.
Albanese’s Prime Ministerial address:
hxxps://www.pm.gov.au/contact-your-pm
If the Australian PM wants to stop Julian Assange from being extradited to the US then he should call for a Referendum in Australia to take place on whether or not Australia should leave NATO on the Day “”after”” the British courts give their final decison on this matter.
free Julian Assange
But Australia isn’t a NATO member, even though they act as if they are, and kowtow to the US/UK. Graeme’s idea to write to Albanese is good.
AUKUS is NATO, NATO is AUKUS, so it means the same thing.
Ok. I get your point. And yes, i agree. But i doubt they will ever do that.
Australia should leave NATO/AUKUS SHOULD THE BRITISH COURT’S FINAL DECISION BE IS TO EXTRADITE JULIAN ASSANGE TO THE US AND THE PM IN AUSTRALIA SHOULD CALL FOR A REFERENDUM ON THIS ISSUE IF BRITAIN DECIDES TO EXTRADITE JULIAN TO THE US THERFORE.
ARGUABLY, HE ALREADY HAS DIPLOMATICALLY LET THE AMERICANS KNOW THAT HE INTENDS TO DO THIS VIA HIS RECENT COMMENTS THAT “”ENOUGTH IS ENOUGTH”” ETC.
HOWEVER, IF HE DOES NOT DO THIS, THEN PEOPLE LIKE YOU SHOULD DEMAND A VOTE ON WHETHER OR NOT AUSTRALIA SHOULD LEAVE AUKUS/NATO, ESPECIALLY IF JULIAN IS EXRADICTED TO THE US FROM BRITAIN.
FREE JULIAN ASSANGE.
Mick.
Back on 12 May 2023 — the Sydney Morning Herald’s Reader Poll reflects the change of heart: 79 per cent of people said the Biden administration should drop its pursuit of Assange.
hxxps://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/the-time-has-come-to-end-the-sorry-julian-assange-saga-20230511-p5d7t4.html
Regarding your comment about a referendum.
In Australia a referendum is required to change the constitution; freeing Julian is not a constitutional matter.
A plebiscite is conducted to gauge public opinion – which is what happened during the marriage equality fiasco, fortunately the majority favoured marriage equality.
Graeme,
I realize freeing Julian is not in itself a constitutional matter and I did not make that argument. To repeat what I argued for is as follows;
Australia should leave NATO/AUKUS SHOULD THE BRITISH COURT’S FINAL DECISION BE TO EXTRADITE JULIAN ASSANGE TO THE US AND THE PM IN AUSTRALIA SHOULD CALL FOR A REFERENDUM ON THIS ISSUE IF BRITAIN DECIDES TO EXTRADITE JULIAN TO THE US THERFORE.
ARGUABLY, HE ALREADY HAS DIPLOMATICALLY LET THE AMERICANS KNOW THAT HE INTENDS TO DO THIS VIA HIS RECENT COMMENTS THAT “”ENOUGTH IS ENOUGTH”” ETC.
HOWEVER, IF HE DOES NOT DO THIS, THEN PEOPLE LIKE YOU SHOULD DEMAND A VOTE ON WHETHER OR NOT AUSTRALIA SHOULD LEAVE AUKUS/NATO, ESPECIALLY IF JULIAN IS EXRADICTED TO THE US FROM BRITAIN.
FREE JULIAN ASSANGE.
Out of a Population of around 25 plus million over 20 million of them are saying, according to the latest Opinion Poll, that
the “”Biden administration should drop its pursuit of Assange.”” What I have argued is that should their Puppy Dog Political/Judicial Elites and their Propogandists in Britain, collectively make a final Judicial ruling to extradite Julian, then the following should and in my view propably will happen.
Australia should leave NATO/AUKUS SHOULD THE BRITISH COURT’S FINAL DECISION BE IS TO EXTRADITE JULIAN ASSANGE TO THE US AND THE PM IN AUSTRALIA SHOULD CALL FOR A REFERENDUM ON THIS ISSUE IF BRITAIN DECIDES TO EXTRADITE JULIAN TO THE US THERFORE.
ARGUABLY, HE ALREADY HAS DIPLOMATICALLY LET THE AMERICANS KNOW THAT HE INTENDS TO DO THIS VIA HIS RECENT COMMENTS THAT “”ENOUGTH IS ENOUGTH”” ETC.
HOWEVER, IF HE DOES NOT DO THIS, THEN PEOPLE LIKE YOU SHOULD DEMAND A VOTE ON WHETHER OR NOT AUSTRALIA SHOULD LEAVE AUKUS/NATO, ESPECIALLY IF JULIAN IS EXRADICTED TO THE US FROM BRITAIN.
FREE JULIAN ASSANGE
Graeme,
If what I argued for above, in Australia itself is not supported, or even if it is supported, yet still cant stop those US Judicial Puppies in Britain, and those neo-con Westmister Politicians and the mainstream media in Britain, from Extraditing Julian Assange to the US, then the Labour and Trade Union Movement in Britain, should Organize now for a General Strike to stop the Yanks from putting Julian in a Supermax Prison in the US. Thus, if this attempt to Extradite and therefore effectively execute this Brilliant Journalist and Publisher, cannot or “is not” to be stopped in Australia, as outlined above here , then it seems as if the only way to stop this and thus stop this torture of this journalist and thus stop this attempt to Extradite Julian Assange, is for the TUC to Organize a General Strike on this issue now.
Therefore, if the British Courts final decision, is to Extradite Julian, then the TUC General Council, should call for a General Strike to stop this extradition process to commence IMMEDIATELY (should any such Judicial decision be made) and facilitate FREEDOM for JULIAN ASSANGE. That is a General Strike in Britain should start on the “”same day”” as any such decision is made by the Courts in Britain that rules Julian Assange is to be extradicted to US.
Roger Waters said recently, at a Free Julian Protest in London, that any attempt to (Physically) extradite Julian Assange, would be resisted and could only be attempted, “Over our dead bodies.” People all over the world must therefore, “Unite and Fight” to STOP this attempt by the US and establishment in Britain, to Extradite Julian Assange to the US, and therefore, Facilitate Freedom for Julian Assange! Free Julian Assange ! TUC in Britain should Organize a General Strike on this issue now!
If what is argued above is supported regarding Australia leaving AUKUS, should an attempt be made in Britain to Physically extradite Julian Assange, then this extradition process can be stopped. However, if this is not done in Australia, and the TUC in Britain, organize a General Strike with the simple one issue/objective being, to STOP the EXTRADITION of Julian Assange to the US, as outlined here, then it can be stopped in Britain.
If neither of these 2 initiatives are supported, in either Australia or in Britain, then it seems much more likely that Julian Assange will be extradicted to the US but if both of these initiatives are supported or even if only one of them is supported then most people seem to think that Julian Assange’s Freedom, can be facilitated.
FREE JULIAN JULIAN ASSANGE !
Graeme,
There also seems, at least in theory, one other option to facilitate FREEDOM for Julian Assange, and thus conclude this bare faced Judicial abuse of due process that has occurred over the previous 15 years or so, in Britain, with regard to Julian and the US attempts to have him extradited to a US Supermax prison as follows;
If a 1 to 2 million strong protest were to take place, in London outside of the High Courts when this (final) “”decision”” is “actually” being made at the “same time” it is being made, can be organized, with people from outside of Britain supporting those in Britain who are trying to stop this extradition of Julian from taking place, then that also can facilitate an end to this Judicial Outrage and thus facilitate FREEDOM for Julian Assange.
HOWEVER, IF THIS IS TO BE ACCOMPLISHED, then people both in Britain who oppose the attempt being made by the US to extradite Julian to a US Supermax Prison, are to do this then obviously they would need to know whether or not either the Australian Prime Minister is going to call for a Referendum on Australia leaving AUKUS/NATO, if he really means “enougth is enougth” and also whether or not the TUC in Britain, is prepared to Organize a General Strike, as outlined above, to stop any attempt by the Government in Britain, to physically extradite Julian Assange to the US, where he faces a repeatedly reported 175 Jail Sentence.
Thus people who want to stop this extradition (of Julian Assange) process, both in Britain and outside of Britain, obviously need to know “”NOW”” or ASAP, whether or not the Australian PM will call for a referendum in Australia if the final High Court decision in Britain rules that Julian should be extradited to the US. They also need to know ASAP, whether the TUC will call for and/or Organize a General Strike in Britain to stop the extradition of Julian to the US, if the final High Court decision in Britain rules that Julian should be extradited to the US.
Therefore, the people both in and outside of Britain, who oppose the ongoing attempt by the US to extradite Julian Assange, obviously need to know the answer to these 2 queries in clear plain language, inorder that they then know EXACTLY WHAT THEIR REMAINING OPTIONS ARE.
Thus, the Australian PM and the TUC in Britain, should both make their positions crystal clear on this issue and they should do this now. If they were to do this now, people who are prepared to fight to stop this extradition, via a massive 1-2 million strong protest, could then focus on Option number 3, which, it is argued here, should be to ORGANIZE a massive 1-2 million strong protest, which it is also argued here, should take place outside of the High Court in London, on the day that the final decision of the Court is “”actually”” being made regarding this extradition process.
The reason, I am arguing this, is very simple. Answers to these 2 queries and thus ending these uncertainties, one way or the other, will allow those who want to STOP the EXTRADITION OF JULIAN ASSANGE to the US, to “”FOCUS”” on the third option which is, to repeat, organize a 1-2 million strong international protest outside of the High Court in London, in the same way that the brilliant Jeremy Corbyn himself, has been protesting now, for about 5 years or so.
In my own personal opinion, all 3 options above should be supported. In other words, 1; the Australian Prime Minister, should call for a Referendum in Australia on the issue of Australia remaining a AUKUS member state, for reasons outline earlier here. 2; If the British Courts final decision, is to Extradite Julian, then the TUC General Council, should call for a General Strike to stop this extradition process, and that General Strike, should commence IMMEDIATELY (should any such Judicial decision be made) and facilitate FREEDOM for JULIAN ASSANGE. That is a General Strike in Britain should start on the “”same day”” as any such decision is made by the Courts in Britain that rules Julian Assange is to be extradicted to US, and 3; A 1-2 million strong international protest outside of the High Court in London, in the same way that the brilliant Jeremy Corbyn himself, has been protesting now, for about 5 years or so, should also take place.
Therefore, people should call on Anthony Albanese, the Austrlian PM and the TUC General Council to answer these 2 straightforward simple queries for the reasons outlined above and in previous posts made in succession here.
Victory is Certain, Unite and Fight to free Julian Assange and thus save Julian’s live.
Free Julian Assange !
FREE JULIAN ASSANGE
The Western imperial system is on the verge of collapse and the escape of the truth of its crimes in the public sphere is to be silenced no matter the cost. This is how this system chooses to attempt its continued dominance; in vain of course. Julian is the scapegoat for daring to push back against this evil system. As circumstances continue to reveal the rot at the core of Western faux democracy, there will be more journalists willing to out the crimes of empire. How will the powers that be deal with that? How draconian are they willing to be to crush dissent? Assange is the personification of freedom of speech and thought. Way to out yourselves as the antithesis of that.
Hear, hear. I agree completely. The deranged United States government is lashing out while it still can. That time is almost up. The U.S. empire is collapsing with increasing speed. And a good thing, too.
Assange should be celebrated as a hero among the people for exposing such massive crimes of the state. (same for Snowden, Sterling, Kiriakou, Winner and others). ………. instead, we see the frightening success of state/media propaganda to brainwash folks to think of these heroes as traitors. …………. I once brought up Assange’s case to a young woman next to me in a bar. “Oh, I don’t like him – he’s a rapist!”, she said. …..so sad.
The US imperium wants its pound of flesh. ….for exposing crimes against humanity and embarrassing the state he will be made to pay. Journalists around the world are meant to take this as a threat/warning – do NOT look too closely at what the US empire does anywhere in the world …… or else!
The fact that anyone could still say that Julian is a “rapist” is so out of tu=ouch with political reality that I don’t think they should be allowed to vote.
It looks like Britain’s High Court is as corrupted as the U.S. Supreme Court.
But let’s await the final decision.
Well one thing we Americans who care about Assange can do is vow to never visit England again.
England clearly does not need American Tourists. And if Assange does get extradited to the USA, there will be Massive Protests.
“Without a Free Press, there can be No Democracy”
Thomas Jefferson
Agreed. The rank former Empire of Great Britain is now just a hollowed shell.
Militarism and injustice coupled with serious economic intability, and when you add the Adams Family (the Royals), makes it enemy territory.
The British have always had a streak of fascism in their body politic.
Jack Philby was a British agent who also worked for the Nazis and British intelligence supported Hitler in the war.
When journalists have no right to expose our government’s crimes, we have no rights that are safe.
Our perenially confused, mentally compromised President, who has surrounded himself with delusional, megalomaniacal neocons obsessed with world conquest, knows one thing with perfect clarity: freedom of speech and press must go if American hegemony is to prevail.
Publishing the truth about the empire of lies is now a prosecutable offense.
I saw that Dr. Cornell West has announced his candidacy.
So did Mike Pence. His campaign video was dreadful.
Can people please learn to respectfully spell Dr. Cornel West’s name right?
The UK spent most of the 18th and 19th centuries fighting hard against anyone promoting the rule of democracy and daring to challenge the divine right of royalty to rule us all. In all three of the major people’s revolts in European history, the American, French, and Russian Revolutions, the British had Royal Boots on the Ground trying to overthrow the rebels and return the rule to the aristocracy. Whether it was “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness”, “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity”, or “Peace, Bread, Land”, the British were violently opposed to the concept, were supplying guns and ammo to kill any who believed such heresies, and had boots on the ground in each fight. In two out of three, the British were the major opponent fighting the free people.
Their own ‘democracy’ has always been a rigged game in a heavily class-based society, and the Americans inherited most of the worst aspects of this, like the winner-take-all, single-member districts and a rather truth-free form of campaigning. Today neither government has anything like the broad support of the people that one expects in a functioning democracy.
If you want to learn about how the Americans respect freedom of speech and the rule of law, learn about a place called Haymarket Square in Chicago. That tale will tell you all you need to know. Back when I visited the ‘Free Speech Cage’ at an American political convention, that was also very instructive as to how much free speech is valued by the Democratic Elites inside.
More Americans need to know the story of the Haymarket Martyrs. Unfortunately, their story is never taught in schools.
“The day will come when our silence will be more powerful than the voices you strangle today.”
“It was this application for appeal that Swift rejected 11 months later. ”
Speedy Justice …. especially since he probably had his mind made up before the hearing began.
It goes to prove that the English Justice System and its high Court Judgers are Nothing more than ” ASS WIPES TO THE US ” Disgraceful in the extreme..
Agreed. With their awful wigs and hair bonnets they are something out of the past like a bad nighytmare.
Assange needs to be freed but so do the British. The problem is that their minds were colonized a long time ago.
I agree, we British have always been ruled by a privileged and inadequate aristocracy who only care about increasing their personal wealth. It’s the same with politicians including our current crop of so-called rulers. Greed, greed, greed and anybody who disrupts or exposes their actions must be removed. But please don’t blame the British people for the sins of their politicians, the same as we cannot blame the American people for the sins/crimes of their politicians.
Biden must not be reelected President in 2024.
We need a humane and compassionate leader.
A humane and compassionate leader for the United States is not coming. Julian Assange, throughout his persecution, sequestration, and imprisonment, has been a victim of the New Order – which is authoritarian, corporate-ruled and utterly bereft of concern for the West’s erstwhile “freedoms.” Assange is not just one of the most important people to be savaged by the inverted totalitarianism that now masquerades as democracy, but the loudest siren alerting us that the future is going to be a boot stomping on a human face forever unless massive numbers of us, across the political spectrum – organise and, at the top of our lungs shout, “NO!!!!” What once seemed paranoid and apocalyptic to many is happening at breakneck speed while most people in the U.K. and U.S.A. are sleeping. If Julian Assange is not freed, an enormous step will have been taken by this New Order toward ensuring a horribly repressive future for all of us.
It was Donald Trump and his DOJ that indicted Assange to begin with.
True. I am thinking Robert Kennedy Jr.
He came out for the war in Ukraine. Still like him?
“It is a peculiarity of the bourgeoisie, distinguishing it from all other ruling classes, that there is a turning point in its development after which every increase in its means of power, that is in the first place every increase in its capital, only tends to make it more and more incapable of ruling politically.”
— Fredrich Engels
Hmmmmm, but WE all need to know what Biden’s son did in Ukraine. Hmmmm, maybe he should be a part of a prisoner exchange—— Julian Assange , an honest man , gets his freedom, and Biden’s son gets jail time. That seems fair.
We’re not going to get one under capitalism.
This is discouraging, and maddening. However, it is not surprising. There has been a complete lack of honesty in the UK’s handling of matters, to say nothing of inhumanity. And it reflects, of course, that of Washington- of the establishment that is increasingly bent on silencing all dissent and closing off every avenue of information that might lead to it.
Thanks, Joe, for continuing to write on this and other such topics, allowing at least some to peer through that ever-narrowing Overton window.
All independent media are talking about Assange. All voices in support of Assange need to be heard.
Once again America tells the UK what to do and the UK weakly follows instructions. How can they call it The Courts of Justice when there is no justice shown?
The name of the presiding judge is literally a perfect ironic complement to his decision. It would be a cheap and easy irony, if this travesty was fictional. It is not, of course. May God help Julian Assange, and his family.
Motherfuckers.
You beat me to it Dosamuno.
Great minds run in the same channels (or gutters), Valerie.
I’m sure that many others share our disgust and outrage.
“Now everything’s a little upside down
As a matter of fact the wheels have stopped
What’s good is bad, what’s bad is good
You’ll find out when you reach the top
You’re on the bottom”
If anyone thinks that this “Judge” has not been influenced by the establishment and is not part of the problem, then they are fools.
But the UK and the US are democracies, and respect freedom of the press, freedom of speech and the rule of law.
Anyone who makes this claim should be ruthlessly ridiculed, hounded and laughed at. The fact that Tony Blair is walking around free making millions of pounds, and Assange is in prison makes a mockery of such claims.
The UK/US war criminals and enablers are some evil…(fill in the blanks with appropriate vulgar terms)