US President Joe Biden is considering a plea from Australia to halt the prosecution of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. Australia’s parliament, led by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, has passed a resolution advocating for Assange’s return to Australia. The US seeks Assange’s extradition from the UK on charges related to the disclosure of military documents. Assange maintains his innocence, arguing that the disclosures constituted journalism.
President Biden acknowledged Australia’s request, stating, “We’re considering it,” during a recent inquiry. The parliamentary resolution, passed in February, reflects a sentiment that the situation cannot persist indefinitely, as voiced by PM Albanese. He expressed optimism following Biden’s comments, emphasizing the desire for Assange’s return to his homeland.
Assange, 52, continues to contest extradition in UK courts, with proceedings temporarily halted in March pending assurances from the US against the death penalty. The High Court is set to review US responses by the end of May.
Stella, Assange’s wife, urged President Biden on Twitter/X to “do the right thing” and drop the charges. Kristinn Hrafnsson, WikiLeaks’ current editor-in-chief, characterized the extradition attempt as politically motivated and urged President Biden to intervene.
US prosecutors have leveled 18 charges against Assange, primarily under the Espionage Act, relating to the publication of confidential military records and diplomatic cables pertaining to the Afghanistan and Iraq wars. Assange founded WikiLeaks in 2006, boasting a repository of over ten million documents, many of which expose war, surveillance, and corruption. Notably, in 2010, WikiLeaks released footage from a US military helicopter depicting civilian casualties in Baghdad.