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 7 Version 8
Julian Assange: US justice department says he faces five years in jail – live updates Julian Assange: US justice department says he faces five years in jail – live updates
(32 minutes later)
Dan Sabbagh has been at a briefing of journalists by the prime minister’s spokeswoman –
Downing Street said that the prime minister and the government was aware in advance that the Ecuadorians intended to revoke Julian Assange’s asylum status, allowing him to be arrested earlier today.
A No10 spokeswoman said: “There has been a dialogue with Ecuadorian government from the onset. The decision to revoke asylum was one for them entirely. They have set that out.” When pressed whether the UK had lobbied Ecuador, she repeated that the decision was “taken entirely by them”.Downing Street did not respond directly when asked if Assange’s arrest raised any questions for freedom of speech. The spokesman said the Wikileaks founder would now be subject to “an ongoing legal process, and we need to let that run its course”.
This is from Dan Collyns, a journalist based in Peru –
Ecuador’s interior minister, María Paula Romo, told journalists in the capital Quito that a person with links to Wikileaks has been detained in Ecuador. She alleged the person had worked alongside Ricardo Patiño, the former foreign minister, in attempts to “destabilise” the government. Patiño granted Assange asylum in 2012 and was a close confidante of ex president Rafael Correa.
She also said that Assange had smeared faeces on the walls of the embassy in London.
In the same press conference, the country’s foreign minister José Valencia said Assange’s Ecuadorean citizenship had been suspended due to the “innumerable problems, breaches of international accords” and his “interference in external matters”.
Compartimos la intervención del Canciller @ValenciaJoseEc en la rueda de prensa ofrecida esta mañana sobre el retiro del asilo diplomático al señor Julian Assange. #EcuadorSoberano. pic.twitter.com/MCp10zkRFE
Julian Assange has been found guilty of breaching bail in 2012 after being arrested at the Ecuadorean embassy in London on Thursday. Judge Michael Snow said he will be sentenced next month at Southwark Crown Court. He said Assange had shown the “behaviour of a narcissist who cannot get beyond his own selfish interest”.
The United States has requested the extradition of Assange and charged him with involvement in computer hacking with Chelsea Manning. The Metropolitan police said the arrest was made on behalf of the US authorities.
The US justice department said Assange faces up to five years in jail if convicted. It said extradition request is being handled by its office of international affairs.
Theresa May welcomed Assange’s arrest saying it showed “no one is above the law.” She told MPs Assange was arrested for breach of bail after nearly seven years in the Ecuadorian embassy and in relation to an extradition request from the United States’ authorities.
Police were videoed forcibly removing Assange from the embassy at around at around 10.50am. Police had been invited into the building by the Ecuadorian embassy, where Assange had take refuge for almost seven years to avoid extradition to Sweden where authorities wanted to question him as part of a sexual assault investigation.
The president of Ecuador, Lenín Moreno, said he secured guarantees from the UK that Assange would not face the death penalty or torture. Justifying the move of handing him over to the British police, Moreno said: “In a sovereign decision, Ecuador withdrew the asylum status to Julian Assange after his repeated violations to international conventions and daily-life- protocols.”
Elisabeth Massi Fritz, a lawyer for one of the two women who accused Assange, welcomed the arrest. The Swedish prosecution authority is expected to issue a statement later.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow hoped that Assange’s rights would not be violated. A spokeswoman for the foreign ministry accused the UK of strangling freedom.
The arrest was welcomed by the UK government. The foreign secretary, Jeremy Hunt, thanked Ecuador, saying: “Julian Assange is no hero and no one is above the law. He has hidden from the truth for years.” The home secretary, Sajid Javid, is due to update parliament later on Thursday.
Assange’s supporters have condemned the arrest. Rafael Correa, who was Ecuadorian president when Assange was granted asylum, accused his successor of treachery.
The judge said the assertion that Assange had not had a fair hearing earlier was “laughable”, PA reports.
Judge Michael Snow said Assange will face another hearing by video link on 2 May.
A crown court will decide what sentence Assange will face for skipping bail.
He sends Julian Assange to the Crown Court for sentencing as the offence was so serious
He faces up to 12 months in jail, according to PA.
#Breaking Julian Assange has been found guilty of breaching his bail at Westminster Magistrates’ Court and faces a jail sentence of up to 12 months when he is sentenced at Crown Court
District Judge Michael Snow finds Julian Assange guilty of failing to surrenderDistrict Judge Michael Snow finds Julian Assange guilty of failing to surrender
The book Assange was pictured holding during his removal from the embassy this morning - and later read in the dock at Westminster Magistrates Court -was Gore Vidal: History of The National Security State. The book Assange was pictured holding during his removal from the embassy this morning – and later read in the dock at Westminster Magistrates Court – was Gore Vidal: History of The National Security State.
It’s a strange little book - not written by Vidal, as much of the media have reported, but a series of interviews with Vidal conducted over two years by Paul Jay, editor of nonprofit news organisation The Real News Network, who self-published the book on Amazon. It’s a strange little book – not written by Vidal as much of the media have reported – but a series of interviews with Vidal conducted over two years by Paul Jay, editor of non-profit news organisation The Real News Network, who self-published the book on Amazon.
It sees Vidal, then in his eighties and keeping a beading eye on the US from his Italian villa, in a ponderous mood as he considers his imminent return stateside. (He’d die in the Hollywood Hills in 2012 at the age of 86). Considering his future, he tells Jay: “I’m a battleship ... I’m meant for war. But I don’t know if I can do it any more.” It sees Vidal, then in his eighties and keeping a beady eye on the US from his Italian villa, in a ponderous mood as he considers his imminent return stateside. (Hewould die in the Hollywood Hills in 2012 at the age of 86). Considering his future, he tells Jay: “I’m a battleship ... I’m meant for war. But I don’t know if I can do it any more.”
Vidal was a vocal critic of American society and politics, particularly the monopoly of wealth poured into its military and its history of foreign policy. Jay describes Vidal as “a genuine class traitor. [He] could have lived an easier and more celebrated life if he just kept his mouth shut.”Vidal was a vocal critic of American society and politics, particularly the monopoly of wealth poured into its military and its history of foreign policy. Jay describes Vidal as “a genuine class traitor. [He] could have lived an easier and more celebrated life if he just kept his mouth shut.”
In conversation with Jay, Vidal pulls apart US foreign policy, vote-rigging and corruption in the media.In conversation with Jay, Vidal pulls apart US foreign policy, vote-rigging and corruption in the media.
“I think everybody should take a sober look at the world about us, remember that practically everything that you’re told about other countries is untrue, what we’re told about ourselves and our great strength and how much loved we are - forget it. Our strength is there, but it’s the kind of strength that blows off your hand while you hold up the grenade; it’s a suicidal strength as well as a murderous one.” “I think everybody should take a sober look at the world about us, remember that practically everything that you’re told about other countries is untrue, what we’re told about ourselves and our great strength and how much loved we are – forget it. Our strength is there, but it’s the kind of strength that blows off your hand while you hold up the grenade; it’s a suicidal strength as well as a murderous one.”
The BBC’s Daniel Sandford is tweeting updates from Westminster magistrates court.The BBC’s Daniel Sandford is tweeting updates from Westminster magistrates court.
Julian Assange is told that one charge he faces is that he failed to surrender on 29th June 2012. He pleads “not guilty”Julian Assange is told that one charge he faces is that he failed to surrender on 29th June 2012. He pleads “not guilty”
Julian Assange will not give evidenceJulian Assange will not give evidence
Assange is sitting in the dock at Westminster magistrates court reading the Gore Vidal book on the security state (see earlier) that he was seen clutching when he was arrested.Assange is sitting in the dock at Westminster magistrates court reading the Gore Vidal book on the security state (see earlier) that he was seen clutching when he was arrested.
Julian Assange sitting in the dock, waiting for proceedings to get underway in court, reading Gore Vidal book.. first time I've seen any accused reading any form of book in the dock, other than their legal documentsJulian Assange sitting in the dock, waiting for proceedings to get underway in court, reading Gore Vidal book.. first time I've seen any accused reading any form of book in the dock, other than their legal documents
The indictment against Assange has now been unsealed by federal prosecutors in the Eastern District of Virginia, in Alexandria, just across the Potomac river from Washington DC.The indictment against Assange has now been unsealed by federal prosecutors in the Eastern District of Virginia, in Alexandria, just across the Potomac river from Washington DC.
It alleges Assange was involved in a computer hacking conspiracy with Chelsea Manning, a former army intelligence analyst, to crack a defence department password. Cracking that password allowed Manning to log on to a secret government computer network under another username and so cover her tracks when she leaked a vast trove of military and diplomatic documents to WikiLeaks.It alleges Assange was involved in a computer hacking conspiracy with Chelsea Manning, a former army intelligence analyst, to crack a defence department password. Cracking that password allowed Manning to log on to a secret government computer network under another username and so cover her tracks when she leaked a vast trove of military and diplomatic documents to WikiLeaks.
Assange is accused of “actively encouraging” Manning to provide more information. According to the indictment, when Manning told him that she had sent WikiLeaks all she had, Assange replied: “Curious eyes never run dry in my experience.”Assange is accused of “actively encouraging” Manning to provide more information. According to the indictment, when Manning told him that she had sent WikiLeaks all she had, Assange replied: “Curious eyes never run dry in my experience.”
This has been in the works for a few months at least. The eastern Virginia prosecutors, who are likely to be taking the lead because theirs is the nearest federal court to the Pentagon, let slip that Assange had had been criminally charged under seal in November, when they wrote his name on the wrong court docket.This has been in the works for a few months at least. The eastern Virginia prosecutors, who are likely to be taking the lead because theirs is the nearest federal court to the Pentagon, let slip that Assange had had been criminally charged under seal in November, when they wrote his name on the wrong court docket.
Lawyer Susan Hennessey says the US charges present the UK authorities with an interesting dilemma.Lawyer Susan Hennessey says the US charges present the UK authorities with an interesting dilemma.
The fact that Assange is only being charged with CFAA violations will make it an interesting question whether the UK will distinguish this from Lauri Love, who successfully fought extradition to the US on hacking charges: https://t.co/FFTN6yeJN2The fact that Assange is only being charged with CFAA violations will make it an interesting question whether the UK will distinguish this from Lauri Love, who successfully fought extradition to the US on hacking charges: https://t.co/FFTN6yeJN2
WikiLeaks says that its editor, Kristinn Hrafnsson, and Assange’s UK lawyer, Jennifer Robinson, will be making a statement outside Westminster magistrates court after Assange’s hearing.WikiLeaks says that its editor, Kristinn Hrafnsson, and Assange’s UK lawyer, Jennifer Robinson, will be making a statement outside Westminster magistrates court after Assange’s hearing.
Announce: WikiLeaks editor Kristinn Hrafnsson and UK lawyer for Assange Jennifer Robinson will be making a statement outside Westminster Magistrate's Court after Assange's hearing has concluded.Announce: WikiLeaks editor Kristinn Hrafnsson and UK lawyer for Assange Jennifer Robinson will be making a statement outside Westminster Magistrate's Court after Assange's hearing has concluded.
Some thoughts and commentary on those US charges against Assange.
So he is being charged with helping Chelsea Manning steal classified documents from US databases (by helping him crack passcodes, create new usernames). He is not being charged with publishing the docs. https://t.co/699w6HC9kT
The DOJ says part of what Assange did to justify his prosecution - beyond allegedly helping Manning get the documents - is he encouraged Manning to get more docs for him to publish. Journalists do this with sources constantly: it's the criminalization of journalism pic.twitter.com/GXNjWlkFZw
The US justice department has confirmed that it issued an extradition request for Assange “in connection with a federal charge of conspiracy to commit computer intrusion for agreeing to break a password to a classified US government computer”.
In a statement, it cited court documents unsealed today that show the charge relates to “Assange’s alleged role in one of the largest compromises of classified information in the history of the United States”.
It claims Assange faces only five years in jail if convicted.
It says:
The indictment alleges that in March 2010 Assange engaged in a conspiracy with Chelsea Manning, a former intelligence analyst in the US Army, to assist Manning in cracking a password stored on US Department of Defense computers connected to the Secret Internet Protocol Network (SIPRNet), a US government network used for classified documents and communications. Manning, who had access to the computers in connection with her duties as an intelligence analyst, was using the computers to download classified records to transmit to WikiLeaks. Cracking the password would have allowed Manning to log on to the computers under a username that did not belong to her. Such a deceptive measure would have made it more difficult for investigators to determine the source of the illegal disclosures.
During the conspiracy, Manning and Assange engaged in real-time discussions regarding Manning’s transmission of classified records to Assange. The discussions also reflect Assange actively encouraging Manning to provide more information. During an exchange, Manning told Assange that “after this upload, that’s all I really have got left”. To which Assange replied, “curious eyes never run dry in my experience”.
Assange is charged with conspiracy to commit computer intrusion and is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison if convicted. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the US sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
The extradition will be handled by the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs.
An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
Assange could be heard urging the UK to resist the Trump administration as he was being led away, according to video from Sky News which enhanced audio on the recording.
Julian Assange: key dates in the WikiLeaks founder's case
Elisabeth Massi Fritz, a lawyer who represents one of Assange’s accusers in Sweden, has submitted a request to Sweden’s prosecutor’s office for the preliminary investigation into the case to be resumed, the Swedish news site Expressen confirms.
Advokat Elisabeth Massi Fritz om gripandet av Assange i London: "Att det vi har väntat och hoppats på i snart sju års tid nu händer kommer så klart som en chock för min klient” https://t.co/PmItCPuvPz pic.twitter.com/5eKVcllOPP
Journalist and ex-lawyer Glenn Greenwald, who worked at the Guardian at the time of the Edward Snowden leaks, said US attempts to extradite Assange were “extremely chilling”.
Speaking to Democracy Now he said: “The idea that the US government can just extend its reach to any news outlet anywhere in the world and criminalise publication of documents … is extremely chilling.”
.@ggreenwald says Julian Assange is not American and Wikileaks is a foreign-based news organization. "So the idea that the U.S. government can just extend its reach to any news outlet anywhere in the world and criminalize publication of documents … is extremely chilling.” pic.twitter.com/2mWlcpMume
Theresa May has given a statement about Assange. Speaking to the Commons before updating MPs on the Brexit delay, she said:
I am sure that the whole house will welcome the news this morning that the Metropolitan Police have arrested Julian Assange – arrested for breach of bail after nearly seven years in the Ecuadorian embassy. He has also been arrested in relation to an extradition request from the United States’ authorities. This is now a legal matter before the courts. The home secretary will make a statement on this later, but I would like to thank the Metropolitan Police for carrying out their duties with great professionalism and to welcome the cooperation of the Ecuadorian government in bringing this matter to a resolution. This goes to show that, in the United Kingdom, no one is above the law.
Assange gave photographers a thumbs up as he was driven away from the embassy in a police van.
A scuffle broke out outside the Ecuadorian embassy between embassy security and a reporter from Chile’s el Ciudadano newspaper who tried to challenge the ambassador as he was taken into a car.
Patricio Mary, the reporter, said he had wanted to ask ambassador Jaime Martín about promises he had made to respect Assange’s asylum.
“Ecuadorian police pushed me and tried to fight with me,” he said. “We started shouting traitor and liar because when I interviewed him two days ago he told me there was no change with the position of Julian Assange and that the government of Lenín Moreno will respect international law.”
He said the Ecuadorians had breached their own sovereignty by inviting British police into their embassy. It was symbolic of the way the Ecuadorian government had treated journalists in their own country, where Moreno had shut down opposing newspapers and betrayed an incipient socialist revolution, he said.
Earlier, an Assange supporter – a woman who declined to give her name – was overheard saying that she thought the embassy was being watched last night and that police had chosen to swoop when his supporters were not around.
She said she would not comment to the Guardian, which she accused of vilifying Assange. Nevertheless, she added: “Do you think this means just one man being arrested? This is your press freedom on the line. But I guess you don’t care about that; you are already bought and paid for.”
Two Californians, Carol and David Hatcher, who are holidaying close to the embassy said they had come to visit Assange’s supporters. “I don’t have a view about what’s happening, I’m not making any judgments about people,” Carol Hatcher said.
The Guardian’s former Washington office chief, Ewen MacAskill, has some background.
US grand jury behind Assange charges met in secret in 2010 after Guardian, Der Spiegel, NYT published cables. Why are they not being prosecuted? Only difference would be if Assange accused of encouraging Chelsea Manning to leak them?
US did not waste any time putting in extradition request for Assange. Terrible precedent if journalist/publisher ends up in US jail for Iraq war logs and state department cables.