World

(Updated) Assange Granted Bail; Swedish Gov’t Appealing

LONDON (AP) — A British judge granted Julian Assange bail on Tuesday but the WikiLeaks founder will remain in custody for at least another 48 hours after Swedish prosecutors said they would challenge the decision.

Assange, a 39-year-old Australian, has already spent a week in a U.K. jail following his surrender to police in a Swedish sex-crimes investigation. He denies any wrongdoing and his lawyers say he plans to fight Sweden’s extradition request.

Britain’s High Court will hear the Swedish appeal, although it wasn’t immediately clear when.

Assange‘s lawyer Mark Stephens said his client’s relief at the bail decision had already evaporated, calling it “unfortunate” that “the Swedes won‘t abide by the umpire’s decision.”

“They clearly will not spare any expense but to keep Mr. Assange in jail,” Stephens told journalists outside the City of Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London. “This is really turning into a show trial.”

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

LONDON (AP) — A British judge granted bail to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange on Tuesday, but he was being briefly held pending possible appeal.

Swedish authorities were given two hours to lodge an appeal and their lawyer, Gemma Lindfield, said it was likely she would.

The 39-year-old Australian has been held in a London prison for a week after surrendering to Scotland Yard due to a Swedish arrest warrant in a sex-crimes investigation.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

LONDON (AP) – A British judge granted bail to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange on Tuesday, saying he must abide by strict bail conditions as he fights extradition to Sweden in a sex-crimes investigation.

The 39-year-old Australian has been held in a London prison for a week after surrendering to Scotland Yard due to a Swedish arrest warrant.

Assange is wanted for questioning after two women accused him of sexual misconduct in separate encounters in Sweden over the summer. Lawyers for Assange say he denies the allegations and will contest Sweden’s attempt to extradite him.

A number of eminent international figures had offered to post bond worth at least 200,000 pounds ($315,000) to help secure Assange’s release, his lawyer, high-profile human rights advocate Geoffrey Robertson, told the hearing in London on Tuesday.

Lawyer Gemma Lindfield, acting on behalf of Swedish authorities, asked the court to deny Assange bail because the allegations in Sweden were serious, Assange had only weak ties to Britain and he had money enough “to abscond.”

Supporters outside City of Westminster Magistrates‘ Court erupted in cheers when they heard news of the judge’s ruling.

Comments (30)

  • RugDog
    Posted on December 14, 2010 at 6:13pm

    God Bless Julian Assange!

    All forms of government are immoral by their nature. No man or group of men should have authority over another man or group of men. Ever. Period.

    Anarchy is not (doesn’t need to be) chaos!

    No government is good government!!

    Report Post » RugDog  
  • saneromeo
    Posted on December 14, 2010 at 2:18pm

    Too counter all of this nonsense, where is the disinformation campaign? Why aren’t groups throwing mock wiki-leaks up by the hundreds of millions? Could’nt you bury this crap in an avalanche of other crap? If it has to be true in order to be legal, than make it true. ex: 2/12/09: The sun rose this morning. Bury the crap, take his toy from him and make it as meaningless as his life will be about thirty minutes after he steps out of prison. Above all, we need to pray for this man, and his safety (whether he knows it or not, he is about to be martyred for progressivism) he is lost and I fear his time is running out…

    Report Post » saneromeo  
  • awiderview
    Posted on December 14, 2010 at 12:59pm

    When it comes to their view of government, this guy (see link) sounds like a lot of people (if not Beck himself) on this site. What do you think?
    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-moore/why-im-posting-bail-money_b_796319.html

    Report Post »  
  • TTRR
    Posted on December 14, 2010 at 12:29pm

    Has anyone heard anything recently about the real criminal in this? I want to know what the hell is happening with PFC Manning. If they find him guilty in a military court, there will be no delay, as there shouldn’t be, they will quickly take him to the firing squad and take care of the true guilty party. Sure, the left and their lapdogs in the media will wring their hands and say how brutal, etc… but I guaranty you that the next one will think twice about passing sensitive files.

    Report Post » TTRR  
    • saneromeo
      Posted on December 14, 2010 at 2:23pm

      Sandy Burglar comes to mind (hold on a sec, these sensitive briefs, really itch my sensitives when in my briefs) but I agree with you, treason is treason, and death is the punishment for treason.

      Report Post » saneromeo  
  • HemiOwner
    Posted on December 14, 2010 at 12:08pm

    Like his new blond hair. Is it Just for Men or Ms. Clairol? Hope his fellow prisoners will like it just as much.

    Report Post » HemiOwner  
  • Sparkymark
    Posted on December 14, 2010 at 11:53am

    I’ve seen the future, and it’s right here on the internet, in black, red and white.

    A whole virtual world full of uneducated bigoted right-wing nutjobs in every damn forum in every dark depressing corner of the web. The sort of people who would gladly like to see the rest of the world enslaved in a consumerist corporate nightmare propped up by TV religion and unquestioning patriotism, policed by spooks and governed by those who think they exist above and beyond the law. The sort of people who just want to have a quiet life free from guilt and compassion so they can polish their guns and wank off in their basements to Sarah Palin pr0n.

    Yes, I’m talking about you.

    Julian Assange is a global hero and Bradley Manning a true patriot. About time you woke up out of your law-enforcement fantasy before you drag the rest of us back into the dark ages, America.

    Report Post »  
    • FromtheBasement
      Posted on December 14, 2010 at 7:01pm

      LOL! You so crack me up Sparkymark. Did you think twice before you posted your tirade? You seemed to ignore the basic problems, here.

      1. Assange has been accused of “sexual misconduct,” basically meaning he’s been charged with rape and should be tried for his crimes.
      2. He admits to posting secret documents from the US. This is called espionage. If he were to set foot in the US, he could be tried and, if convicted, could be legally deported, imprisoned, or executed.
      3. PFC Manning has been charged, and has admitted to, an act of espionage and treason, because he is a US citizen and member of the military. Again, if found guilty he can, and likely will be, executed.

      How is any of what you accuse us “right-wing nut jobs” of doing have to do with our concern over protecting national interests? Your line of accusation is so tangential that is has nothing to do with the actual conversation.

      Report Post » FromtheBasement  
  • theoneu571@verizon.net
    Posted on December 14, 2010 at 11:37am

    Add your comments

     
  • heavyduty
    Posted on December 14, 2010 at 11:36am

    Oh, I bet Micheal Moore is not happy, he wanted to post bail for him. Now he doesn’t have anything to write about for his next flop. Wouldn‘t surprise me if they weren’t bed buddies.

    Report Post »  
  • poverty.sucks
    Posted on December 14, 2010 at 11:33am

    Sexual misconduct? Is that when a lady finds out she’s not the only one?

    Report Post » poverty.sucks  
  • Spawnomite
    Posted on December 14, 2010 at 11:32am

    This guy is a hero.
    He’s helping the Obama Soros AGENDA.

    Report Post »  
  • theoneu571@verizon.net
    Posted on December 14, 2010 at 11:31am

    yes maybe the cia wont lose him????????????????

    Report Post »  
  • Gonzo
    Posted on December 14, 2010 at 11:27am

    If the CIA gets this guy and turns him over to some foreign power for interrogation, he won’t be so glad his liberal buddies got the U.S. to curtail advanced interrogation techniques. The guys we turn them over to now , will go medieval on him.

    Report Post » Gonzo  
  • NickDeringer
    Posted on December 14, 2010 at 11:15am

    The EU will gladly accept our bailout money and then stab us in the back.

    Report Post » NickDeringer  
  • GeauxAlready
    Posted on December 14, 2010 at 11:10am

    Julian Assange did nothing but post. PFC Manning and who ever in the adminastration that helped him are the Guilty parties.

    Report Post » SpankDaMonkey  
    • tower7femacamp
      Posted on December 14, 2010 at 11:14am

      yes I agree, why don’t the NEOCONS get that ?
      That’s how we got the Patriot Act !

      Report Post » tower7femacamp  
    • pap pap
      Posted on December 14, 2010 at 11:22am

      I don’t see how a PFC would have access to all of that info by himself.

      Report Post »  
  • FED-UP-AND-READY-TO-TAKE-ACTION
    Posted on December 14, 2010 at 11:06am

    Some what his head while others praise him. If I were him I would find a good hiding spot to say the least……………….VICTORY OR DEATH

    Report Post » FED-UP-AND-READY-TO-TAKE-ACTION  
  • MikeinIdaho
    Posted on December 14, 2010 at 11:02am

    Any bets he disappears? If he does, they should offer a bounty “dead or alive”.

    Report Post » MikeinIdaho  
  • cnsrvtvj
    Posted on December 14, 2010 at 11:01am

    They talked about this at donsmithshow.com last week. The government needs to do a better job of securing our secrets. I hope Glenn follows this.

    Report Post » cnsrvtvj  
    • marhee9
      Posted on December 14, 2010 at 11:08am

      That site rocks. The Obama interview is hilarious!

      Report Post »  
  • uhadenoughyet.com
    Posted on December 14, 2010 at 11:01am

    The CIA should pick this guy up and send him to our version of the gulag, you know the place where prisoners who would seek the destruction of America eat better than the soldiers on the front lines trying to stop them.

    Report Post » uhadenoughyet.com  
    • snowleopard3200 {mix art}
      Posted on December 14, 2010 at 11:14am

      If he flees from England then let the British sick their MI-5 groups upon him, and also, in international areas – say the high seas on a private boat or such, he may run into a group of American navy SEAL or such to ‘detain him for passport violations’ or some such charge.

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • pscully17
      Posted on December 14, 2010 at 11:19am

      NY times reports RAIDS on Islamist Groups in Germany, Poised to enact, esablish Ilamic Rule/edicts… story in progress, 20 minutes ago.

      Report Post »  
    • Polwatcher
      Posted on December 14, 2010 at 11:41am

      I agree with the Supremes on this.

      Report Post »  
    • Sinista Mace
      Posted on December 14, 2010 at 12:14pm

      I see, I see.

      The CIA should violate this man‘s rights and imprison him without due process indefinitely because he disseminated information the government doesn’t want the public to know.

      Gotcha.

      What else should they do to him?

      Report Post » V-MAN MACE  
    • tower7femacamp
      Posted on December 14, 2010 at 10:09pm

      we need leaks to keep things out in the open

      The document, which was leaked to a Colorado beekeeper, shows that the EPA has ignored warnings about the use of clothianidin, a pesticide produced by Bayer that mainly is used to pre-treat corn seeds. The pesticide scooped up $262 million in sales in 2009 by farmers, who also use the substance on canola, soy, sugar beets, sunflowers, and wheat, according to Grist.
      http://www.fastcompany.com/1708896/wiki-bee-leaks-epa-document-reveals-agency-knowingly-allowed-use-of-bee-toxic-pesticide
      Do you really trust your Govt ?

      Report Post » tower7femacamp  

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