8 - 14 April 2019 | 178 comments (178 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

Re: Europe (none / 1)

BREAK - Julian Assange, 47, (03.07.71) has today, Thursday 11 April, been arrested by officers from the Met Police (MPS) at the Embassy of Ecuador, Hans Crescent, SW1 on a warrant issued by Westminster Magistrates' Court on 29 June 2012, for failing to surrender to the court.
— Ross Kempsell (@rosskempsell) 11. April 2019

by generic on Thu Apr 11th, 2019 at 09:41:13 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Europe (none / 0)

Everyone knows it is really about the US grand jury investigation into the Manning leak, presumably on espionage charges.

But I am still curious, what is the punishment for jumping bail in the UK? Can he pay a fine and get on the evening train to France?

The Swedish case is closed. It can be reopened, as it was closed due to being unable to advance the case as the accused had fled to Equador. That takes time though, so I don't think it will be relevant.

by fjallstrom on Thu Apr 11th, 2019 at 10:30:37 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Europe HABEAS CORPUS (none / 0)

will protect neither Assange nor you.

Assume nothing: That is the lesson one ought to have learned well from the last two years of Trump "media" + Brexit "negotiation" + the prior 10 years disposition of the Panic of '08, including precious Greece + 20 or so generations of indoctrination from westworld Enlightenment and the "politics of" ... avocados.

The elite to whom some persons pledge allegiance do not rule by law.

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Thu Apr 11th, 2019 at 11:34:42 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Europe (none / 0)

As always, the "special relationship" will ensure that some agency definitely NOT affiliated with SIS or MOD will keep him on ice until he can be properly bagged and delivered out the back door into the alley to a white cargo van with "USAID" written on its side.

by rifek on Mon Apr 15th, 2019 at 06:17:39 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Europe (4.00 / 2)

Nevermind, the US has released its charges and demands extradition.

According to court documents unsealed today, the charge relates to Assange's alleged role in one of the largest compromises of classified information in the history of the United States.
The indictment alleges that in March 2010, Assange engaged in a conspiracy with Chelsea Manning, a former intelligence analyst in the U.S. Army, to assist Manning in cracking a password stored on U.S. Department of Defense computers connected to the Secret Internet Protocol Network (SIPRNet), a U.S. government network used for classified documents and communications. Manning, who had access to the computers in connection with her duties as an intelligence analyst, was using the computers to download classified records to transmit to WikiLeaks. Cracking the password would have allowed Manning to log on to the computers under a username that did not belong to her. Such a deceptive measure would have made it more difficult for investigators to determine the source of the illegal disclosures.
During the conspiracy, Manning and Assange engaged in real-time discussions regarding Manning's transmission of classified records to Assange. The discussions also reflect Assange actively encouraging Manning to provide more information. During an exchange, Manning told Assange that "after this upload, that's all I really have got left." To which Assange replied, "curious eyes never run dry in my experience."
Assange is charged with conspiracy to commit computer intrusion and is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

by fjallstrom on Thu Apr 11th, 2019 at 02:02:57 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Europe ANNEX (none / 0)

Try to act surprised.

I enjoyed it too. NPR chose to lie to its audience by introducing me as "a colleague of Julian Assange" even though I never worked with Assange or WikiLeaks in my life, but did what all other journalists have done: reported on them & their publications. Went downhill from there: https://t.co/klYxJypE6w
— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) April 11, 2019

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Thu Apr 11th, 2019 at 02:20:15 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Europe (4.00 / 3)

Lawyer pushing to reopen the Swedish case:

Lawyer says to push for Sweden to reopen Assange investigation

by Bernard on Thu Apr 11th, 2019 at 06:57:57 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Europe (4.00 / 3)

In the end, I think it is up to the prosecutor to issue a new European Arrest Warrant. But that would make things interesting.

I have some vague memory, that I fail to confirm, that an EAW comes before extradition to a third country. And while the extradition process to the US has only begun, the extradition process to Sweden has already gone through the courts. And if he is extradited to Sweden he can then (under the rules of Speciality) only be extradited to a third country if both UK and Sweden approves.

I also think that if he is extradited to Sweden, he will not be convicted. Rape cases are hard to prove, a nine year old case doesn't make it easier. Also, and unlike some cases, a rape case is something the courts are used to and have a lot of settled law in. So it would be very hard to get a conviction for the sake of convenience.

So my guess is that pressure will be applied so that an EAW isn't issued.

by fjallstrom on Thu Apr 11th, 2019 at 07:42:53 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Europe (none / 1)

The extradition of Julian Assange to the US for exposing evidence of atrocities in Iraq and Afghanistan should be opposed by the British government.pic.twitter.com/CxTUrOfkHt
— Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) 11. April 2019

by generic on Thu Apr 11th, 2019 at 09:27:29 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Europe (none / 0)

WHEREAS THE UK PARLIAMENT IS RECESSED, Guardian fondles slack in de basement of intrigues.

Labour row breaks out over Assange sexual assault allegations

More than 70 MPs and peers have written to Javid and the shadow home secretary, Diane Abbott, urging them to focus attention on the earlier Swedish investigations that Assange would face should the case be resumed at the alleged victim's request.

this.empowerment(dead letters)

The parliamentarians' letter is a pointed counter to Abbott's comments earlier on Friday when she said Assange's current detention was not about "the rape charges, serious as they are, it is about WikiLeaks and all of that embarrassing information about the activities of the American military and security services that was made public."
The letter to Javid and Abbott points out that time is limited for the UK to provide assistance to Sweden, given the allegation of rape has a limitation period which expires in August 2020.

Labour row breaks out over Assange sexual assault allegations
"[Abbottt] urged Theresa May [!] to intervene in the same way she had in the case of computer hacker Gary McKinnon, when in 2012 as home secretary she halted his extradition to the US on human rights grounds; doctors had warned McKinnon was at risk of suicide if sent for trial in the US."

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Fri Apr 12th, 2019 at 07:54:16 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Cool (none / 0)

John Woodcock, who cowardly resigned from the Labour Party to avoid facing an enquiry into allegations of sexual misconduct, has signed a letter to stand with victims of alleged sexual misconduct, I kid you not. https://t.co/pbWH8PDW5P
— Matt Thomas #JC4PM2019 (@Trickyjabs) April 12, 2019

I stand with ~~other's~~ victims.

by generic on Sat Apr 13th, 2019 at 12:33:39 PM EST
[ Parent ]

8 - 14 April 2019 | 178 comments (178 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

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