President Joe Biden: US ‘Considering’ Dropping Julian Assange Prosecution

Biden’s comments on Assange come a day ahead of the fifth anniversary of his imprisonment in the UK.

President Joe Biden said that the U.S. is “considering” ending the prolonged prosecution of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, a day ahead of the fifth anniversary of Assange’s detention in London’s Belmarsh Prison.

Asked by the media at the White House about the Australian government’s formal appeal advocating for the return of the 52-year-old to his homeland.

As the president walked along the garden a reporter called: “Do you have a response to Australia’s request that you end Julian Assange’s prosecution?”

Biden replied: “We’re considering it.”

Assange has been embroiled in legal turmoil since his 2019 arrest after seeking asylum for seven years at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London. He faces U.S. charges related to the alleged acquisition and dissemination of classified information linked to military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.

During recent court proceedings, Assange’s defence pushed for permission to appeal on grounds including freedom of expression concerns and the risk of capital punishment. Although judges Dame Victoria Sharp and Mr Justice Johnson dismissed many of his claims, they conceded that assurances from the U.S. could pave the way for an appeal.