There have been stories about Julian Assange’s imminent exit from the Ecuadorian Embassy in London after a seven year stay there avoiding legal actions . He has just left the Embassy after Ecuador withdrew his asylum, to be arrested by UK police for he was found guilty of failing to surrender to the court.
BBC- Julian Assange: Wikileaks co-founder arrested in London
Wikileaks co-founder Julian Assange has been arrested at the Ecuadorian embassy in London.
Assange took refuge in the embassy in 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden over a sexual assault case that has since been dropped.
At Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Thursday he was found guilty of failing to surrender to the court.
He now faces US federal conspiracy charges related to one of the largest ever leaks of government secrets.
The UK will decide whether to extradite Assange, in response to allegations by the Department for Justice that he conspired with former US intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning to download classified databases.
He faces up to five years in US prison if convicted on the charges of conspiracy to commit computer intrusion.
Assange’s lawyer Jennifer Robinson said they would be fighting the extradition request. She said it set a “dangerous precedent” where any journalist could face US charges for “publishing truthful information about the United States”.
A Twitter thread on Assange’s court appearance.
Asked his name Assange says “My name is Julian Paul Assange”
The court is told Julian Assange was arrested this morning in two warrants
The court is hearing the history of the Swedish sexual offences case through the UK courts, and how after his appeal failed Julian Assange entered the Ecuadorean embassy in June 2012 in breach of his bail
Assange was arrested this morning on a warrant arising from that breach of bail
The second warrant relates to an extradition request from the US issued in Dec 2017 (issued by the District Judge presiding over today’s case)
The court is hearing how Julian Assange was arrested at 10.15 this morning
Officers tried to introduce themselves but he barged past them. He resisted and shouted “this is unlawful”. He had to be restrained and officers struggled to handcuff him. He shouted again “This is unlawful, I am not leaving” as he was led to the police van.
Julian Assange is told that one charge he faces is that he failed to surrender on 29th June 2012. He pleads “not guilty”
He is told that the US warrant says that between Jan 2010 and July 2010 he conspired with Chelsea Manning to “effectuate” unauthorised disclosure.
The court is now discussing whether Julian Assange has to give evidence to explain why he failed to surrender to bail
Julian Assange will not give evidence
Julian Assange’s lawyer says that District Judge Emma Arbuthnot who heard this case at previous hearings should have recused herself because of “bias”
District Judge Michael Snow tells the defence it is “unacceptable in front of a packed press gallery to traduce the reputation of the senior District Judge”. He says it is “grossly unfair”
District Judge Michael Snow finds Julian Assange guilty of failing to surrender
That was quick, but I guess it’s obvious that’s what he did.
He says Julian Assange’s behaviour is “the behaviour of a narcissist who cannot get beyond his own selfish interest”
He sends Julian Assange to the Crown Court for sentencing as the offence was so serious
The US Justice Dept describes the charge Julian Assange faces as “conspiracy to commit computer intrusion”, saying the charge carries a maximum sentence of 5 years in prison
Your NZ 
NOEL
/ 12th April 2019A thief finally arrested.
Dotcom and Snowden to follow?
Kitty Catkin
/ 12th April 2019From your lips to God’s ears.
MaureenW
/ 12th April 2019What did he steal?
Gezza
/ 12th April 2019He is told that the US warrant says that between Jan 2010 and July 2010 he conspired with Chelsea Manning to “effectuate” unauthorised disclosure.
One assumes he will now continue to narcissate & refusiate to cooperate with any mves to effectuate the US’s extradictionary intentionals.
Gezza
/ 12th April 2019*moves
Kitty Catkin
/ 12th April 2019I was dubious about the rape charges when I read that the alleged victim had told her friends that it was ‘bad sex’. I can’t imagine real rape victims calling it that !
Blazer
/ 12th April 2019a nice diversion from Brexit…[that type of claim/speculation should have supporting evidence – PG]
Pete George
/ 12th April 2019Blazer
/ 12th April 2019‘When it comes to Trump and his campaign, it is clear that the Justice Department is ignoring the role Assange played in Russian attempts to interfere in the 2016 election. It might also be a coincidence that, after more than a year of rumors that Assange was about to be ejected from the Ecuadoran embassy, it actually happened after Robert Mueller delivered the report on his findings to the Justice Department. But if Assange is extradited to the U.S. to face these charges, it’s too late for the special counsel to question him about his role in Russia’s interference. That is very convenient for the president.’…Motherjones.
Corky
/ 12th April 2019If this guy is alive in 5 years time, he will become the 8th wonder of the world.
Duker
/ 12th April 2019Since when has UK had ‘District Judges ” ? Where is the reporting coming from. They would Magistrates
Pink David
/ 12th April 20191999
Kitty Catkin
/ 12th April 2019I looked this up, and they do have them.
Zedd
/ 12th April 2019Great to see Julian ‘NOT going quietly.. into the night’ (7 cops to take him out).. BUT perhaps the UK cops will also charge him with; resisting arrest ? 😀
Kitty Catkin
/ 12th April 2019He seemed to me to be completely passive and helpless (?) He had to be lifted into the van. Is he very blonde or has his hair gone white ? He looked about 100.
Kitty Catkin
/ 12th April 2019He looked as if he was being dragged along like a paralytic drunk.
freedom
/ 2nd January 2020He is fighting for truth and your rights to know what govts do in secret; including war crimes, corruption…at taxpayers expense. Naturally govts arent keen on him.
His shaving kit and a haircut were denied him before they set him up for this sham trial. The judge was ruled to be biased and she was replaced.
If you value an unbiased press, and social media freedoms stop his extradition (Extradition. The transfer of an accused from one state or country to another state or country that seeks to place the accused on trial.) from the U.K.to the U.S.
He is a testcase for other journalists.
Alan Wilkinson
/ 12th April 2019The US will need to explain why WaPo and NYT are continually permitted to publish state secrets but Wikileaks is not – exactly the same material. It may not be a winning case except that Assagne is not American and is therefore unlikely to get a fair hearing just like KDC.
Gezza
/ 12th April 2019According to 1news at 6, Los Yanquis are most likely to go after him for illegal hacking, because this avoids problems they may have with their 1st Amendment. His biggest worry might be Trump ordering that he be waterboarded “or worse”, & that one of Trump’s craven, sycophantic appointees will agree to it.
PrayThroughHistory
/ 15th April 2019the man has not one strike against him for publishing lies, yet faces jail. only tyrants fear the truthful this much.