Julian Assange fights US extradition in London 'stop court

WikiLeaks founder, Julian Assange, is fighting against his extradition to the US in London’s top court this week after failing to delay the hearing on Monday.

The US Department of Justice is seeking his extradition over his publication of classified information from the US government in 2010 and 2011.

The hearing began in February but it was pushed back as a result of the coronavirus. Assange is wanted on 18 charges, most of which fall under the US Espionage Act.

The US Justice Department issued a new indictment in June alleging that Assange conspired with members of hacking organizations and tried to recruit hackers at conferences in Europe and Asia to gain information on the US government.

Assange’s lawyer, Edward Fitzgerald QC, argued Monday that the latest indictment arrived too late for his team to review and respond. The bid was unsuccessful and the charges will be pushed.

Speaking from a glass box on Monday, Assange said he does not consent to extradition. If he loses the hearing he could be facing a prison sentence of up to 175 years.

He claims he is being targeted for exposing the US government for alleged war crimes and human rights violations.

Assange, a father of two young children, was arrested at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London in April 2019 for breaching his bail conditions and has been held at the high-security Belmarsh Prison in southeast London since. His health has deteriorated since then.