Julian Assange: extradition case and outcome
The United States sought his extradition from the United Kingdom after his arrest at the Ecuadorian embassy in London in April 2019. A district judge refused extradition in January 2021, the High Court overturned that decision on appeal, and in May 2024 the High Court gave him permission to appeal the extradition order. He then reached a plea agreement with US prosecutors and was sentenced to time served in June 2024 without being extradited.
Plea deal before extradition He was released from Belmarsh prison in June 2024 after agreeing a plea deal with the United States, and he was never extradited. The plea was entered in Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands, a US territory close to Australia.1,5
Charges are allegations unless a court has convicted. Each record states what each court or minister decided and the person's public response.
Decisions
- Metropolitan PoliceArrested at the Ecuadorian embassy in London for breaching bail in 2012 and on behalf of US authorities, after Ecuador withdrew his asylum status.2
- District judge, Westminster Magistrates' CourtRuled that he could not be extradited, finding he was likely to kill himself under harsh US prison conditions, as reported by AP.2
- High Court of England and WalesGranted the United States permission to appeal the ruling that blocked extradition.2
- High Court of England and WalesRuled that US assurances about his detention were enough, allowing the extradition process to continue.2
- Supreme Court of the United KingdomRefused him permission to appeal, as reported by AP as a refusal by Britain's top court.2
- UK government (Home Secretary)Ordered his extradition to the United States. He appealed.2
- High Court of England and WalesFound a real prospect of success on three of nine grounds and said he could bring a fresh appeal unless the United States gave assurances on the First Amendment and the death penalty within three weeks.3
- High Court of England and Wales (Dame Victoria Sharp and Mr Justice Johnson)Found the US assurances insufficient and granted permission to appeal on freedom of speech and nationality.4
- US District Court for the Northern Mariana IslandsAccepted his guilty plea to conspiring to obtain and disclose national defense information and imposed a 62 month sentence credited as time served.1
What happened next
Not extradited. Under the plea agreement he pleaded guilty to one conspiracy offence and received a 62 month time served sentence, which the Justice Department said matched the time he spent in UK prison on the US charges. The Justice Department said he would depart for Australia and is prohibited from returning to the United States without permission.1
Response
His lawyer Edward Fitzgerald KC told the High Court in May 2024 that most US assurances were "blatantly inadequate". After the March 2024 ruling his wife Stella Assange said the courts had invited "a political intervention from the United States". After his release she posted "Julian is free!!!!".4,3,5
Legal points
- The January 2021 refusal rested on the risk of suicide in US prison conditions, according to AP.2
- The High Court in December 2021 accepted US diplomatic assurances about his detention as sufficient.2
- In 2024 the High Court focused on whether, as an Australian, he could rely on the First Amendment, and on assurances that he would not face the death penalty.3,4
Sources
- US Department of Justice, WikiLeaks Founder Pleads Guilty and Is Sentenced for Conspiring to Obtain and Disclose Classified National Defense Information (25 June 2024)
- Associated Press (via PBS NewsHour), Timeline of the Julian Assange legal saga as he makes a final bid to avoid extradition to the U.S. (20 February 2024)
- UPI (via Yahoo News), British court gives United States 3 weeks to show Julian Assange would get fair trial (26 March 2024)
- Silicon UK, Julian Assange Granted Right To Challenge US Extradition Order (20 May 2024)
- Al Jazeera, Julian Assange freed: What's the deal the WikiLeaks founder struck with US? (25 June 2024)