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http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/assange-could-face-espionage-trial-in-us-2154107.html
Informal discussions have already taken place between US and Swedish officials
over the possibility of the WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange being delivered
into American custody, according to diplomatic sources.
Mr Assange is in a British jail awaiting extradition proceedings to Sweden
after being refused bail at Westminster Magistrates’ Court despite a number
of prominent public figures offering to stand as surety.
His arrest in north London yesterday was described by the US Defence Secretary
Robert Gates as “good news”, and may pave the way for extradition to America
and a possible lengthy jail sentence.
The US Justice Department is considering charging Mr Assange with espionage
offences over his website’s unprecedented release of classified US
diplomatic
files. Several right-wing American politicians are pressing forhis
prosecution and even execution, with Sarah Palin, the former
vice-presidential candidate, saying he should be pursued the same as
al-Qa’ida and Taliban leaders.
Mr Assange’s appearance in the London court, the focus of massive
international media attention, puts Britain in the centre of the controversy
and recrimination over the publishing of thousands of diplomatic cables
which
have caused acute embarrassment to the administration in Washington.If the
man responsible for putting them in the public domain is to besilenced, his
supporters say, the process started here.
The Swedish government seeks Mr Assange’s extradition for alleged sexual
offences against two women.
Sources stressed that no extradition request would be submitted until and
unless the US government laid charges against Mr Assange, and that attempts
to take him to America would only take place after legal proceedings are
concluded in Sweden.
Mr Assange, 39, had voluntarily gone to a police station accompanied by
solicitors after the issuing of an international warrant.
The court heard that Jemima Khan, the sister of the Conservative MP Zac
Goldsmith, the film director Ken Loach and journalist John Pilger were among
those who had offered to stand bail to the sum of £180,000. But District
Judge Howard Rule remanded him in custody on the grounds that there was a
risk the WikiLeaks founder would fail to surrender.
Mr Loach, who offered £20,000, explained that he did not know Mr Assange other
than by reputation, but he said: "I think the work he has done has been a
public service. I think we are entitled to know the dealings of those that
govern us." Mr Pilger, who also offered £20,000, said he knew Mr Assange as
a
journalist and personal friend and had a "very high regard for him".
"I am aware of the offences and I am also aware of quite a lot of the detail
around the offences,” said Mr Pilger. “I am here today because the charges
against him in Sweden are absurd and were judged as absurd by the chief
prosecutor there when she threw the whole thing out until a senior political
figure intervened." Ms Khan offered a further £20,000 "or more if need be",
although she said she did not know Assange.
Gemma Lindfield, appearing for the Swedish authorities, successfully opposed
bail being granted because there was a risk he would fail to surrender – and
also for his own protection, she said. She outlined five reasons why there
was a risk: his "nomadic" lifestyle, reports that he intended to seek asylum
in Switzerland, access to money from donors, his network of international
contacts and his Australian nationality.
Mrs Lindfield added: "Any number of people could take it upon themselves to
cause him harm. This is someone for whom, simply put, there is no condition,
even the most stringent, that would ensure he would surrender to the
jurisdiction of this court."
Ms Lindfield told the court that Mr Assange was wanted in connection with four
allegations of sexual offences.She said the first complainant, Miss A, said
she was victim of "unlawful coercion" on the night of 14 August in
Stockholm.
The court heard Mr Assange is accused of using his body weight tohold her
down in a sexual manner.
The second charge alleged Mr Assange "sexually molested" Miss A by having sex
with her without a condom when it was her "express wish" one should be used.
The third charge claimed Mr Assange "deliberately molested" Miss A on August
18 "in a way designed to violate her sexual integrity".
The fourth charge accused Mr Assange of having sex with a second woman, Miss
W, on 17 August without a condom while s
