The UK Home Secretary Sajid Javid has signed off on the extradition of Julian Assange to the United States, reports El Reg.
Javid's certifying of the US extradition request lodged this week is the first formal step in having Assange sent across the pond. The next phase is tomorrow, when Belmarsh Magistrates' Court will set a date for a full extradition hearing. After that, assuming a district judge (full-time professional magistrate) OKs the extradition, Javid himself will make the final decision on whether or not to send the one-time chief WikiLeaker to America, as UK.gov's website explains. It is almost certain Assange will file an appeal to the High Court after the district judge's ruling, and again (as the law allows) after the Home Secretary's final decision.
In the US, Assange will face charges of violating espionage law.
(Score: 5, Informative) by Mykl on Thursday June 13 2019, @11:21PM (2 children)
To all of those naysayers over the last many years - I FUCKING TOLD YOU SO.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday June 14 2019, @04:27AM (1 child)
Have to admit it was brilliant planning on the part of the lizard people. We'll be arguing about whether the R team (because sitting president) or D team (because they apparently can't just drone him) are the bad guys all 2020 long.
(Score: 2) by Phoenix666 on Friday June 14 2019, @12:33PM
It's a great exploit of the innate human tendency to tribalism.
Washington DC delenda est.