This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/media/live/2019/apr/11/wikileaks-founder-julian-assange-arrested-at-the-ecuadorean-embassy-live-updates
The article has changed 26 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 16 | Version 17 |
|---|---|
| Assange arrest: Trump claims to 'know nothing about WikiLeaks' despite past praise – live | Assange arrest: Trump claims to 'know nothing about WikiLeaks' despite past praise – live |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Dan Collyns reports on action in the Ecuadorean capital Quito: | |
| In a presentation before Ecuador’s parliament, José Valencia, the foreign minister, set out nine reasons why Assange’s asylum had been withdrawn. The list ranged from meddling in Ecuador’s relations with other countries to having to “put up with his rudeness” for nearly seven years. | |
| Starting at 11am local time, Valencia said Ecuador had been left with little choice but to end Assange’s stay in its London embassy following his “innumerable acts of interference in the politics of other states” which put at risk the country’s relations with them. | |
| His second point focused on Assange’s behavior which wavered between riding a skateboard and playing football inside the small embassy to mistreating and threatening embassy staff and even coming to blows with security workers. Valencia said the whistleblower and his lawyers had made “insulting threats” against the country accusing its officials of being pressured by other countries. | |
| He said Assange “permanently accused [embassy] staff of spying on and filming him” on behalf of the United States and instead of thanking Ecuador for nearly seven years of asylum he and his entourage launched “an avalanche of criticisms” against the Ecuadorean government. He referred also to the guest’s “hygienic” problems including one which was “very unpleasant” and “attributed to a digestive problem.” | |
| But Assange’s deteriorating health was also major concern, the minister said, as he could not be properly treated in the embassy building. He added the fact the UK would not consider granting him safe conduct meant Ecuador faced the prospect of him staying “indefinitely in the diplomatic headquarters.” | |
| The minister went on to say Ecuador could not extend asylum to a person fleeing justice and there was no extradition request for Assange when Ecuador ended his asylum. The UK had offered sufficient guarantees of due process to Assange, Valencia added, and that he would not be extradited to a country where he could face torture or the death penalty. | |
| Finally, there were “multiple inconsistencies” in how Assange had been granted Ecuadorean citizenship and his stay had proved very costly, the minister said. Ecuador had spent more $5.8m on its guest’s security between 2012 and 2018 and nearly $400,000 on his medical costs, food and laundry, he added. | |
| Earlier on Thursday, Ecuador’s interior minister, María Paula Romo, said authorities had identified “one of the key member of Wikileaks and people close to Mr Julian Assange” living in the country several years. | |
| “We have sufficient evidence that they have been collaborating with destabilization attempts against the Ecuadorean government,” she said, noting that they had travelled with Ricardo Patiño, the former foreign minister who granted asylum to Assange in 2012, to Peru, Spain and Venezuela. | |
| She added the identity and location of two Russian hackers who were also living in Ecuador would be delivered to the state prosecutor’s office. | |
| Here’s more from our continuing coverage of the Assange arrest. Reporter Ed Pilkington takes us inside the webchats the US hopes will get Assange behind bars, writing in part: | |
| The lengths to which the US government is prepared to go to nail Assange for the 2010 leaks is now becoming clear. Not only have extradition proceedings been instigated against Assange, but Manning herself is back behind bars, having refused to testify before the US grand jury investigating WikiLeaks. She was recently subjected to a spell in solitary confinement at William G Truesdale adult detention center, in Alexandria, Virginia. | |
| As the case thickens, the spotlight is likely to fall increasingly on those internet communications between Ox and his source. In her statement to the court martial, Manning said: “At first our conversations were general in nature, but over time as our conversation progressed, I accessed this individual to be an important part of” WikiLeaks. | |
| Read the full piece here: | |
| Inside the webchats the US hopes will get Assange behind bars | |
| In Comment, meanwhile, Simon Jenkins writes that Julian Assange’s cyber-sins seem quaint ten years later: | |
| The eviction of Julian Assange from London’s Ecuadorian embassy is a strange irony. He saw himself as a warrior for truth across the boundless paradise of the web, where people could make their own rules. Now he finds himself badly in need of a secure border, a friendly judge and legal protections. [...] | |
| Today, the experiences of Snowden and Assange speak volumes for the absence of rules to rein in internet anarchy. Vast state resources are devoted to the same tasks Assange was doing freelance. Compared with the alleged cyber-activities of the Chinese and Russian governments – and presumably our own – Assange was a kid in an attic. And as fast as national agencies struggle to secure their secrets, the dark riders of the web are overtaking them. | |
| Read further: | |
| Julian Assange’s cyber-sins seem quaint in comparison to those of big tech | Simon Jenkins | |
| Chelsea Manning’s legal team has released a statement arguing that the unveiling of the year-old Assange indictment means she was improperly held in contempt of court because, as they argued at the time, “compelling Chelsea to testify would have been duplicative of evidence already in the possession of the grand jury.” | Chelsea Manning’s legal team has released a statement arguing that the unveiling of the year-old Assange indictment means she was improperly held in contempt of court because, as they argued at the time, “compelling Chelsea to testify would have been duplicative of evidence already in the possession of the grand jury.” |
| Lawyers for Manning plan to file a reply brief in an appeal asking the Fourth Circuit court of appeals to vacate a district court judge’s 8 March finding of civil contempt. | Lawyers for Manning plan to file a reply brief in an appeal asking the Fourth Circuit court of appeals to vacate a district court judge’s 8 March finding of civil contempt. |
| A statement released by Manning’s legal team said in part: | A statement released by Manning’s legal team said in part: |
| Ms. Manning, a staunch advocate for government transparency, asserted legal grounds for her refusal to participate in what she views as an assault on the free press. She remains in detention as a result of the contempt finding. The Assange indictment disclosed this morning strengthens their claims of grand jury abuse, say Manning’s attorneys. | Ms. Manning, a staunch advocate for government transparency, asserted legal grounds for her refusal to participate in what she views as an assault on the free press. She remains in detention as a result of the contempt finding. The Assange indictment disclosed this morning strengthens their claims of grand jury abuse, say Manning’s attorneys. |
| “The indictment against Julian Assange unsealed today was obtained a year to the day before Chelsea appeared before the grand jury and refused to give testimony. The fact that this indictment has existed for over a year underscores what Chelsea’s legal team and Chelsea herself have been saying since she was first issued a subpoena to appear in front of a Federal Grand Jury in the Eastern District of Virginia — that compelling Chelsea to testify would have been duplicative of evidence already in the possession of the grand jury, and was not needed in order for US Attorneys to obtain an indictment of Mr. Assange. Grand Juries may not be used for the sole and dominant purpose of preparing for trial, including questioning potential trial witnesses. Since her testimony can no longer contribute to a grand jury investigation, Chelsea’s ongoing detention can no longer be seriously alleged to constitute an attempt to coerce her testimony. As continued detention would be purely punitive, we demand Chelsea be released.” | “The indictment against Julian Assange unsealed today was obtained a year to the day before Chelsea appeared before the grand jury and refused to give testimony. The fact that this indictment has existed for over a year underscores what Chelsea’s legal team and Chelsea herself have been saying since she was first issued a subpoena to appear in front of a Federal Grand Jury in the Eastern District of Virginia — that compelling Chelsea to testify would have been duplicative of evidence already in the possession of the grand jury, and was not needed in order for US Attorneys to obtain an indictment of Mr. Assange. Grand Juries may not be used for the sole and dominant purpose of preparing for trial, including questioning potential trial witnesses. Since her testimony can no longer contribute to a grand jury investigation, Chelsea’s ongoing detention can no longer be seriously alleged to constitute an attempt to coerce her testimony. As continued detention would be purely punitive, we demand Chelsea be released.” |
| Here’s video of Trump in the Oval Office saying “I know nothing about Wikileaks, it’s not my thing.” He says the Assange case is in attorney general William Barr’s court. | Here’s video of Trump in the Oval Office saying “I know nothing about Wikileaks, it’s not my thing.” He says the Assange case is in attorney general William Barr’s court. |
| “I know really nothing about him,” Trump says of Assange. “It’s not my deal in life.” | “I know really nothing about him,” Trump says of Assange. “It’s not my deal in life.” |
| Here’s our earlier post on the topic including a mash-up video of the 100+ times Trump mentioned WikiLeaks on the campaign trail. | Here’s our earlier post on the topic including a mash-up video of the 100+ times Trump mentioned WikiLeaks on the campaign trail. |
| Here’s a selection of our coverage so far today of the Assange arrest: | Here’s a selection of our coverage so far today of the Assange arrest: |
| Julian Assange charged by US with computer hacking conspiracy | Julian Assange charged by US with computer hacking conspiracy |
| The seven-year itch: Assange's awkward stay in the embassy | The seven-year itch: Assange's awkward stay in the embassy |
| Assange branded a 'narcissist' by judge who found him guilty | Assange branded a 'narcissist' by judge who found him guilty |
| Julian Assange: key dates in the WikiLeaks founder's case | Julian Assange: key dates in the WikiLeaks founder's case |
| A plaintiff has requested that Sweden’s investigation into rape allegations against Assange should be resumed, Sweden’s prosecution service said today. | A plaintiff has requested that Sweden’s investigation into rape allegations against Assange should be resumed, Sweden’s prosecution service said today. |
| David Crouch in Sweden reports: | David Crouch in Sweden reports: |
| Deputy chief prosecutor Eva-Marie Persson will handle the request in Gothenburg. | Deputy chief prosecutor Eva-Marie Persson will handle the request in Gothenburg. |
| “We will now examine the matter to determine how we proceed,” Persson said in a statement. “The preliminary investigation has therefore not been resumed yet and we do not know today whether it will happen. We cannot promise any timetable for when decisions will be made.” | “We will now examine the matter to determine how we proceed,” Persson said in a statement. “The preliminary investigation has therefore not been resumed yet and we do not know today whether it will happen. We cannot promise any timetable for when decisions will be made.” |
| The statute of limitations on the allegations run out in mid-August 2020. | The statute of limitations on the allegations run out in mid-August 2020. |
| Massimo Moratti, Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for Europe Research, has released a statement opposing the extradition of Assange to the United States. | Massimo Moratti, Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for Europe Research, has released a statement opposing the extradition of Assange to the United States. |
| “Amnesty International calls on the UK to refuse to extradite or send in any other manner Julian Assange to the USA where there is a very real risk that he could face human rights violations, including detention conditions that would violate the absolute prohibition of torture and other ill-treatment and an unfair trial followed by possible execution, due to his work with WikiLeaks,” the statement says in part. | “Amnesty International calls on the UK to refuse to extradite or send in any other manner Julian Assange to the USA where there is a very real risk that he could face human rights violations, including detention conditions that would violate the absolute prohibition of torture and other ill-treatment and an unfair trial followed by possible execution, due to his work with WikiLeaks,” the statement says in part. |
| It continues: | It continues: |
| “We are aware of allegations of rape and other sexual violence against Julian Assange - which should be properly investigated in a way that respects the rights of both the complainants and the accused - and he should be brought to justice if there is sufficient evidence against him. | “We are aware of allegations of rape and other sexual violence against Julian Assange - which should be properly investigated in a way that respects the rights of both the complainants and the accused - and he should be brought to justice if there is sufficient evidence against him. |
| “If Sweden decides to pursue an extradition of Mr Assange from the UK, there must be adequate assurances that he would not be extradited or otherwise sent to the USA. | “If Sweden decides to pursue an extradition of Mr Assange from the UK, there must be adequate assurances that he would not be extradited or otherwise sent to the USA. |
| “It remains unclear what formal process took place to allow the UK authorities to enter the Ecuadorian Embassy and detain Julian Assange, who had reportedly had his Ecuadorian citizenship suspended yesterday. | “It remains unclear what formal process took place to allow the UK authorities to enter the Ecuadorian Embassy and detain Julian Assange, who had reportedly had his Ecuadorian citizenship suspended yesterday. |
| “We urge the UK authorities to comply with the assurances provided to Ecuador that he would not be sent anywhere he could face the death penalty, torture or other ill-treatment.” | “We urge the UK authorities to comply with the assurances provided to Ecuador that he would not be sent anywhere he could face the death penalty, torture or other ill-treatment.” |
| The Washington-based legal analyst Susan Hennessey has drawn a comparison between Assange’s case and that of Lauri Love, who successfully fought extradition to the US on hacking charges: | The Washington-based legal analyst Susan Hennessey has drawn a comparison between Assange’s case and that of Lauri Love, who successfully fought extradition to the US on hacking charges: |
| Lauri Love ruling 'sets precedent' for trying hacking suspects in UK | Lauri Love ruling 'sets precedent' for trying hacking suspects in UK |
| Donald Trump, who frequently praised WikiLeaks during the 2016 presidential campaign, whose son exchanged messages with the organization on Twitter, and whose associate Robert Stone communicated with Assange about material WikiLeaks planned to publish, has just told US reporters that WikiLeaks is “not my thing.” | Donald Trump, who frequently praised WikiLeaks during the 2016 presidential campaign, whose son exchanged messages with the organization on Twitter, and whose associate Robert Stone communicated with Assange about material WikiLeaks planned to publish, has just told US reporters that WikiLeaks is “not my thing.” |
| “I know nothing about WikiLeaks,” Trump said in the Oval Office, according to a White House pool report. “It’s not my thing.” | “I know nothing about WikiLeaks,” Trump said in the Oval Office, according to a White House pool report. “It’s not my thing.” |
| With the United States having requested Assange’s extradition to face criminal charges, the WikiLeaks’ founder’s stock is currently low in Washington. But it wasn’t always so. Here’s a video of Trump on the stump going on and on (and on) about WikiLeaks: | With the United States having requested Assange’s extradition to face criminal charges, the WikiLeaks’ founder’s stock is currently low in Washington. But it wasn’t always so. Here’s a video of Trump on the stump going on and on (and on) about WikiLeaks: |
| Uh... https://t.co/ER8txZe5Y5 | Uh... https://t.co/ER8txZe5Y5 |
| WikiLeaks was so popular inside the Trump camp during the campaign that they worked under a poster of Assange... | WikiLeaks was so popular inside the Trump camp during the campaign that they worked under a poster of Assange... |
| Hard to overstate the Trump campaign's enthusiasm for Julian Assange. I was backstage at Debate #2 and they literally had an Assange fanboy poster on the wall https://t.co/JWl6d7PpSi pic.twitter.com/NXO652FZKw | Hard to overstate the Trump campaign's enthusiasm for Julian Assange. I was backstage at Debate #2 and they literally had an Assange fanboy poster on the wall https://t.co/JWl6d7PpSi pic.twitter.com/NXO652FZKw |
| ...and Sean Hannity, Trump’s main cheerleader inside Fox News (and on the stump), offered to let Assange host his radio show. | ...and Sean Hannity, Trump’s main cheerleader inside Fox News (and on the stump), offered to let Assange host his radio show. |
| well this is awkward pic.twitter.com/RV3Ee4LCLj | well this is awkward pic.twitter.com/RV3Ee4LCLj |
| Just a few examples of Trump tweets that mention Wikileaks: pic.twitter.com/lNdTnhb0hZ | Just a few examples of Trump tweets that mention Wikileaks: pic.twitter.com/lNdTnhb0hZ |
| Edward Snowden has tweeted again, describing the “weakness of the US charge” as shocking. | Edward Snowden has tweeted again, describing the “weakness of the US charge” as shocking. |
| The weakness of the US charge against Assange is shocking. The allegation he tried (and failed?) to help crack a password during their world-famous reporting has been public for nearly a decade: it is the count Obama's DOJ refused to charge, saying it endangered journalism. https://t.co/xdTQ8xauB0 | The weakness of the US charge against Assange is shocking. The allegation he tried (and failed?) to help crack a password during their world-famous reporting has been public for nearly a decade: it is the count Obama's DOJ refused to charge, saying it endangered journalism. https://t.co/xdTQ8xauB0 |
| Can Julian Assange be charged with additional offences once he has been extradited to the United States? The Guardian’s legal affairs correspondent, Owen Bowcott, has this answer. | Can Julian Assange be charged with additional offences once he has been extradited to the United States? The Guardian’s legal affairs correspondent, Owen Bowcott, has this answer. |
| Normal practice is that anyone extradited can only be prosecuted in the country that sought them for the offences specified on the extradition indictment. That restriction is known as the Rule of Specialty. But there are two possible but difficult to use exemptions. | Normal practice is that anyone extradited can only be prosecuted in the country that sought them for the offences specified on the extradition indictment. That restriction is known as the Rule of Specialty. But there are two possible but difficult to use exemptions. |
| The first is that if it could be argued new information had come to light since his extradition, extra charges could conceivably be brought. “That almost never happens,” said Nick Vamos, the former head of extradition at the Crown Prosecution Service who is a partner at the London law firm peters and Peters. “American prosecutors would also have to seek the consent of the UK to bring in further charges.” | The first is that if it could be argued new information had come to light since his extradition, extra charges could conceivably be brought. “That almost never happens,” said Nick Vamos, the former head of extradition at the Crown Prosecution Service who is a partner at the London law firm peters and Peters. “American prosecutors would also have to seek the consent of the UK to bring in further charges.” |
| The second exemption covers what happens after someone has been extradited, convicted and then chooses to remain in the country. Essentially the extraditing country has to allow the prisoner time to run away after they have served their sentence. | The second exemption covers what happens after someone has been extradited, convicted and then chooses to remain in the country. Essentially the extraditing country has to allow the prisoner time to run away after they have served their sentence. |
| “After a short period, however, usually two months,” Vamos explained, “anyone who remained in the same country would be deemed to be treated like a local citizen and could be charged for other offences.” | “After a short period, however, usually two months,” Vamos explained, “anyone who remained in the same country would be deemed to be treated like a local citizen and could be charged for other offences.” |
| Neither conditions are likely to be met in Assange’s case. “The US has only put one charge on the indictment and it carries the maximum term of five years in prison. Assange has the opportunity to assent to it. It’s relatively light sentence by US standards,” said Vamos. | Neither conditions are likely to be met in Assange’s case. “The US has only put one charge on the indictment and it carries the maximum term of five years in prison. Assange has the opportunity to assent to it. It’s relatively light sentence by US standards,” said Vamos. |