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LONDON — Britain’s Supreme Court docket on Monday mentioned it had refused the most recent enchantment by Julian Assange, the embattled WikiLeaks founder, to stop his extradition to the US.
The announcement was a blow to Mr. Assange, coming simply months after a excessive court docket mentioned he would have the ability to enchantment a call by a decrease court docket that will enable for his extradition. Nonetheless, he has nonetheless not exhausted all of his authorized choices within the British courts, his legal professionals mentioned.
The Supreme Court docket in an announcement Monday mentioned that it had refused permission to enchantment “as a result of the appliance doesn’t elevate an controversial level of regulation.”
Mr. Assange’s authorized group indicated that the choice on extradition would now be referred again to the decrease court docket that initially assessed the U.S. request, which might then put the ultimate determination in entrance of Priti Patel, the U.Okay.’s Residence Secretary.
Ms. Patel would then resolve whether or not to order or refuse the extradition, however Mr. Assange’s protection group will even be entitled to make submissions to her earlier than she points a call. Ms. Patel’s workplace didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
A U.S. Justice Division spokesman additionally declined to remark.
Crucially, the Birnberg Peirce regulation agency, which is representing Mr. Assange within the case, mentioned he had not exhausted his capability to enchantment in regard to “different vital points he raised beforehand” in that decrease court docket determination.
The agency mentioned it regretted “that the chance has not been taken to think about the troubling circumstances during which requesting states can present caveated ensures after the conclusion of a full evidential listening to.”
The agency’s assertion referred to the preliminary argument for enchantment, which had turned on the timing of when the US made assurances that Mr. Assange could be handled humanely in an American jail if he’s discovered responsible.
“In Mr. Assange’s case, the court docket had discovered that there was an actual danger of prohibited therapy within the occasion of his onwards extradition,” the agency mentioned.
Mr. Assange was charged in the US beneath the Espionage Act in reference to acquiring and publishing secret authorities paperwork centered round U.S. actions in the course of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. They had been printed on WikiLeaks in 2010 after being leaked by Chelsea Manning, a former navy intelligence analyst.
If Mr. Assange had been extradited to the US and confronted a trial, the case may elevate profound First Modification points. His prosecution has alarmed advocates of press freedom.
Charlie Savage contributed reporting.
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