Julian Assange: Hero And Villain

By Mathew Kenneally
February 8, 2016

... The Swedish Government cannot guarantee Assange will never be deported to the United States ... Sweden has an extradition treaty with the United States, the Government cannot just say it does not apply to one guy ...

... it is true Assange has not been formally charged. This merely reflects the unremarkable fact that the Swedish justice system differs from the UK. In Sweden, a formal indictment follows the investigation process. That investigation process ends with a “second interview”. The arrest warrant requires Assange to attend a second interview after which the Prosecutor intends to charge him with rape ...

... In this fantasy Sweden is a closer ally of the United States than Great Britain. This alternate reality ignores EU rules that would require both the United Kingdom and Sweden to consent to any request by the US to extradite Assange from Sweden. Assange is arguably safer from extradition to the US in Sweden than Britain ...

... Assange chose to hide out in the Ecuadorian embassy to evade a legitimate EU warrant for bona fide criminal charges ... He should face his accusers ...

https://newmatilda.com/2016/02/08/julian-assange-hero-and-villian/