A London court is expected to rule whether WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange gets one final appeal in England to challenge extradition to the United States on espionage charges.
Two judges are scheduled to issue a judgment on Tuesday morning in the High Court that could put an end to Assange’s long legal saga – or extend it further.
If he fails in winning the right to appeal, his legal team fears he could be swiftly sent to the US to face charges, though they are likely to ask the European Court of Human Rights to block any transfer.
Assange, 52, has been indicted on 17 espionage charges and one charge of computer misuse over his website’s publication of a trove of classified US documents almost 15 years ago.
WikiLeaks’ Assange too ill to attend last-ditch hearing against US extradition
WikiLeaks’ Assange too ill to attend last-ditch hearing against US extradition
The US government said that Assange’s actions went way beyond those of a journalist gathering information and put lives at risk in his bid to solicit, steal and indiscriminately publish classified government documents.
Assange’s family and supporters say his physical and mental health have suffered during more than a decade of legal battles, including taking refuge in the Ecuadorian embassy in London from 2012 until 2019.
Assange’s lawyers say that he could face 175 years in prison if convicted, though American authorities have said the sentence is likely to be much shorter.