Julian Assange Extradited to U.S. to Face Spying Charges

British Judge Approves Extradition After Lengthy Legal Battle

Assange Faces Espionage Charges in the United States

A British judge on Wednesday, June 20, 2022, formally approved the extradition of Julian Assange to the United States to face spying charges. The case has been ongoing for several years, with Assange fighting against his extradition on the grounds that he would not receive a fair trial in the United States.

In April 2022, a London court ordered Assange's extradition to the United States, but the decision was appealed. The British government then approved the extradition order on June 17, 2022.

Assange, the co-founder of WikiLeaks, faces 18 charges in the United States, including conspiracy to obtain and disclose classified information. The charges stem from the publication of classified U.S. military and diplomatic documents by WikiLeaks in 2010.

Assange's supporters argue that he is a whistleblower who exposed wrongdoing by the U.S. government, while prosecutors say he put lives at risk by releasing classified information.