From ReclaimTheNet.org…
UK District Judge Paul Goldspring has formally approved journalist and WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange’s extradition to the US to face charges about information that he published through WikiLeaks more than a decade ago.
The order, which was issued at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, follows the UK Supreme Court preventing Assange from appealing a lower court ruling that approved his extradition last month. However, Assange’s legal team can still appeal today’s ruling.
The final decision will now be sent to UK Home Secretary Priti Patel. Assange’s lawyers have four weeks to make submissions to Patel and can also seek an appeal to the high court.
Mark Summers, a lawyer for Assange, told the court that Assange’s legal team had “serious submissions” to make.
The US’s charges against Assange stem from WikiLeaks’ 2010 publication of leaked material which was provided by whistleblower Chelsea Manning. The leaked materials showed US military members firing on civilians, revealed details about civilian deaths during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, and more.
US government prosecutors claim that Assange unlawfully helped Manning steal the materials and have levied espionage and computer misuse charges against him.
