British Judge Vanessa Baraitser today rejected the extradition request of the U.S. government for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, and ruled that it would be oppressive to extradite him to the United States where he might commit suicide in prison, Kevin Gosztola, managing editor of Shadowproof website, reported on Twitter and Jaclyn Diaz on NPR today. Judge Baraitser set a bail hearing for Wednesday, Jan. 6, and Assange’s supporters welcomed a victory; but the judge otherwise accepted the U.S. Justice Departments indictment charges against Assange lock, stock and barrel, and even implied he could be charged under the British Official Secrets Act as well. All involved understand that a pardon by President Donald Trump is the only way to end the physical and mental depression of Assange’s health under indefinite imprisonment, which caused Baraitser’s surprise denial of extradition. https://twitter.com/kgosztola/status/1346041757184761856
Baraitser said that she believed that Julian Assange would likely be imprisoned at a U.S. supermax prison, with Special Administrative Measures. According to Gosztola’s article, Baraitser stated, “’I am satisfied that, in these harsh conditions, Mr. Assange’s mental health would deteriorate, causing him to commit suicide with the `single-minded determination’ of his autism spectrum disorder” (only recently diagnosed in prison). Baraitser then declared, “I find that the mental condition of Mr. Assange is such that it would be oppressive to extradite him to the United States of America.” She pointed to a suicide attempt by Chelsea Manning in the Alexandria, Virginia Detention Center where Assange would be held before and during trial.
