U.S. Presses Effort to Secure Julian Assanges Extradition From U.K. – The Wall Street Journal

LONDONThe U.S. government resumed its yearslong effort to put Julian Assange on trial on spying charges, challenging a British judges decision to refuse the WikiLeaks founders extradition because he posed a suicide risk.

In a preliminary hearing in London ahead of a full appeal in October, lawyers acting for the U.S. sought to broaden the grounds for appealing a January decision against Mr. Assanges extradition, arguing the evidence around Mr. Assanges mental health needed revisiting.

Judge Timothy Holroyde agreed, saying the judge in the lower court that refused the extradition gave too much weight to the evidence of a defense witness who misled the court by omitting in a report to the court that he knew Mr. Assange started a new family while holed up in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London.

The decision means the U.S. can challenge the extradition refusal on multiple fronts, relating both to points of law and the lower courts central judgment around Mr. Assanges mental state. The U.S. has already offered assurances around Mr. Assanges treatment if extradited to ease concerns that harsh prison conditions could heighten his risk of suicide.

The full appeal is slated for Oct. 27 and 28. Further appeals are possible, meaning Mr. Assanges fate might not be clear for many months.

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U.S. Presses Effort to Secure Julian Assanges Extradition From U.K. - The Wall Street Journal