Kevin Gosztola: US Government’s Appeal Hearing In Assange Extradition Case: Day 2 + Daniel Ellsberg on Assange Extradition Hearing + Chris Hedges: It Strikes Me As Particularly Weak On All Counts

Image by Ivan Radic via Flickr

Dandelion Salad

Shadowproof on Oct 28, 2021

Kevin Gosztola followed the second day of proceedings at the High Court of Justice in the extradition case against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.

The Crown Prosecution Service is arguing on behalf of the United States government to overturn a district judge’s decision to block the extradition back in January. Assange’s legal team respond to the prosecutors’ arguments that were outlined yesterday. Join Kevin for a report on Day 2.

Julian Assange Extradition Appeal: Day 2

Assange Defense
Press Release
October 28, 2021

On the second day of Julian Assange’s extradition appeal hearing, the defense gets to lay out its arguments to uphold the District Judge’s ruling which barred Assange’s ruling on medical grounds. Yesterday, the prosecution attempted to undermine a renowned psychiatrist, admitted its prison assurances are “conditional,” and tried to downplay how harsh Assange’s US conditions would be.

Edward Fitzgerald, Barrister for the defense, addressed grounds 1, 3, and 4 of the U.S. appeal, all dealing with evidence surrounding Assange’s mental health and whether his psychiatric condition and prospective treatment are so oppressive so as to render an extradition unjust. In the afternoon, Mark Summers QC will address grounds 2 and 5, comprising the U.S.’s claims of assurances that Assange wouldn’t be placed in the most severe and isolating conditions in a U.S. prison.

Fitzgerald argued that in her January 4, 2021 ruling, District Judge Vanessa Baraitser carefully weighed defense and prosecution testimony and evidence, applied the appropriate test based on relevant case law (Turner v. USA), and reasonably found overwhelming evidence that Assange is severely depressed, has a “single-minded determination” resulting from his Asperger’s Syndrome that would reduce his capacity to resist suicide, and that these factors combined with the prospect of an all-but-guaranteed oppressive prison regime and life sentence in the United States put him at grave risk of suicide should his extradition be ordered.

To highlight just how justified Assange’s fears have been, Fitzgerald also reminded the court of the recent Yahoo News revelations, based on conversations with more than 30 former government officials, that the CIA under the Trump Administration made serious plans to kidnap and even assassinate Julian Assange while he was in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London.

Dont Extradite Assange Campaign on Oct 28, 2021

Stella Moris, Assange’s partner: Today the court will hear about the plans to assassinate and kidnap Julian in London. #AssangeCase #FreeAssange

Dont Extradite Assange Campaign on Oct 28, 2021

We now have confirmed that there were CIA plans to kidnap or even assassinate Julian Assange. The court must throw out this case entirely. -Kristinn Hrafnsson of @WikiLeaks.

https://twitter.com/kgosztola/status/1453656395467956229 (Full thread)

The proceedings open with Edward Fitzgerald QC dealing with the "grounds for appeal" from the US government that relate to "psychiatric issues." (Grounds 1, 3, and 4) #Assange

— Kevin Gosztola (@kgosztola) October 28, 2021

https://twitter.com/SMaurizi/status/1453650715100987392 (Full thread)

1. Day 2. Julian #Assange #ExtraditionHearing #UKHighCourtOfJustice.I'll report on it. In this extradition proceeding, the #USDoJ acts through the @CPSUK, challenging psychiatric evidence used by the judge Baraitser to deny extradition.There's an important info you have to know.

— Stefania Maurizi (@SMaurizi) October 28, 2021

https://twitter.com/jlpassarelli/status/1453654677912969216 (Full thread)

[THREAD] I start my report on the second day of the #JulianAssange extradition hearing with this reminder:

The court will have to decide whether to send #Assange to the country that plotted to murder him, or whether to protect his life. #AssangeCase pic.twitter.com/aalCm0f0UQ

— Juan Passarelli (@jlpassarelli) October 28, 2021

https://twitter.com/rebecca_vincent/status/1453645422673731586 (Full thread)

Here we go again. Day 2 (the final day) of the UK High Court hearing of the US government’s appeal in the extradition case against @wikileaks publisher Julian Assange. I’ll be monitoring inside the courtroom for @RSF_inter and will have updates on this thread. 1/ pic.twitter.com/XwINlhkfpn

— Rebecca Vincent (@rebecca_vincent) October 28, 2021

Daniel Ellsberg on Assange Extradition Hearing

theAnalysis-news on Oct 27, 2021

Daniel Ellsberg participated in an Italian press conference demanding freedom for Julian Assange.

Transcript

Paul Jay on Assange Extradition Hearing

theAnalysis-news on Oct 27, 2021

Paul Jay participated in an Italian press conference demanding freedom for Julian Assange.

Transcript

Assange facing extradition the US

with Chris Hedges

RT America on Oct 27, 2021

The US has now wrapped up an appeal to extradite Wikileaks founder Julian Assange to face espionage charges. The Imprisoned Wikileaks founder finds himself back in court today, as a two-day extradition hearing has just wrapped up in the UK. The High Court is considering an appeal by the US over a previous ruling to block the publisher’s extradition. RT’s Shadia Edwards-Dashti has the latest. (:51) Then, Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and host of On Contact Chris Hedges joins In Question to discuss. (5:36)

See also:

Appeal Hearing: CIA’s War On Assange, Their ‘Most Prominent Critic,’ Takes Center Stage, by Kevin Gosztola

The Most Important Battle for Press Freedom in Our Time, by Chris Hedges

Appeal Hearing: Prosecutor Attacks Judge’s Decision, Which Blocked US From Extraditing Assange, by Kevin Gosztola

A Guide To The U.S. Government’s Appeal In The Assange Extradition Case, by Kevin Gosztola

From the archives:

Kevin Gosztola: US Government’s Appeal Hearing In Assange Extradition Case: Day 1

Chris Hedges and John Pilger: The Appeals Hearing of Julian Assange

David Swanson and Margaret Kimberley: Powell, Obama, Alex Saab and Assange

Kristinn Hrafnsson: The US Govt Contemplated Killing Julian Assange With UK Complicity

Prime Witness In Assange Case Admits To Lying + MPs Hand-Deliver Letter To Belmarsh Demanding Access To Julian Assange

Kevin Gosztola: Judge Denies Bail for Julian Assange + Kristinn Hrafnsson: Sending Assange Back to Belmarsh is Inhumane

Image by Ivan Radic via Flickr