The extradition order of Julian Assange to the United States has been forwarded by a Westminster Magistrate’s Court to U.K. Home Secretary for approval.
WikiLeaks founder Assange is one step closer to being extradited to the United States, where he is set to be tried on Espionage Act charges for his role in publishing classified military documents.
The court issued a formal extradition order in a hearing Wednesday, leaving UK Home Secretary Priti Patel to rubber-stamp his transfer to the US after a years-long legal wrangle. He is able to appeal the decision.
The official Wikileaks Twitter said. “Assange’s defence will make submissions to Patel (deadline 18 May).” Assange has been held on remand at Belmarsh maximum-security prison awaiting his extradition hearings in London since 2020.
Assange is wanted in the U.S on 18 criminal charges after WikiLeaks published thousands of classified files and diplomatic cables in 2010. If convicted, he faces up to 175 years in prison.
Details shortly…
