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A UK judge has officially approved the extradition of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange to the United States on Wednesday, forwarding a request to Home Secretary Priti Patel for final approval.
While Assange still has the means to appeal the decision, the move is a major step in prosecuting Assange on US espionage charges over his publication of sensitive military and diplomatic documents.
Julian Assange PRESENTS STROKE DURING HEARING OF OCTOBER COMPLAINT, GUERINICA
LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 18: WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange spoke at a press conference confirming that he will “soon leave the embassy” at the Ecuadorian embassy on August 18, 2014 in London, England. Assange has been living at the embassy since June 2012 in an attempt to avoid extradition to Sweden, where he faces sexual assault charges. (Photo by John Stillwell – WPA Pool / Getty Images)
Assange’s lawyers now have four weeks to present Patel’s arguments against his extradition. They can also appeal the case to a higher court, but there is no guarantee that the case will be heard, according to the BBC.
According to the Ministry of Justice, the United States has charged Assange with 17 counts of espionage and one count of computer misuse. The allegations stem from allegations that he helped former Army data analyst Chelsea Manning obtain illegally sensitive US documents.
CHELSEA MENNING WILL RETURN TO PRISON AFTER REFUSING TO TESTIFY IN FRONT OF A LARGE JURY UNDERSTANDING WIKILEAKS
FILE – On this June 5, 2013 photo file Army Pvt. Chelsea Manning, then Pfc Army. Bradley Manning was escorted from the courthouse in Fort Meade, Maryland, after the third day of military trial. (AP Photo / Patrick Semansky, File)
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Manning was sentenced to 35 years in prison after his arrest in 2010. President Barack Obama commuted Manning’s sentence in 2010, which led to Manning’s release the same year.
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