The possibility that Julian Assange, the WikiLeaks founder, could be extradited to the United States seemed to edge closer on Tuesday, after American officials sent assurances to British authorities that he would not face the death penalty or be persecuted for his nationality, and that he could seek First Amendment protections.
The assurances were the latest turn in a prolonged legal battle over the extradition of Mr. Assange, who has been indicted by the United States for violating the Espionage Act by publishing classified documents.
Mr. Assange, 52, was the head of WikiLeaks in 2010 when it published tens of thousands of classified military and diplomatic documents leaked by Chelsea Manning, an Army intelligence analyst.
He has been held in a high-security British prison since the charges were filed in 2019.
The charges raised questions about First Amendment issues, and some saw them as a threat to press freedom.
Persons:
Julian Assange, Assange, Biden, Assange’s, Chelsea Manning
Organizations:
WikiLeaks, British, Embassy
Locations:
United States, Australia, U.S, London