Assange wins right to appeal extradition to US: Live Updates

A British court has ruled that Washington’s assurances that the WikiLeaks founder would receive a fair trial are insufficient

The UK High Court ruled on Monday that imprisoned WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange can appeal a US extradition request. Washington has demanded that the editor be handed over to stand trial on espionage charges for his website’s coverage of America’s wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.   

In a long-running legal battle, Assange’s lawyers have repeatedly attempted to appeal the extradition request, arguing that the 52-year-old would not be given a fair trial in the US and could potentially be sentenced to death.  

In response, Washington has issued diplomatic assurances that Assange would not be held in a maximum security prison or be put into solitary confinement for extensive periods of time, would not face the death penalty, and would be guaranteed a First Amendment right to free speech.  

However, British judges ruled on Monday that these assurances were insufficient and allowed Assange’s legal team to proceed with their appeal against the extradition request.