Assange’s legal team plans to request asylum in France to avoid U.S. extradition
OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 1:11 PM PT — Thursday, February 20, 2020
Jailed WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is reportedly planning to
seek political asylum in France. According to his legal team, the
attorneys are hoping to negotiate asylum for their client with French
President Emmanuel Macron.They warned that Assange’s possible extradition to the U.S. could set a dangerous precedent for journalists all over the world.
“The case that is in front of us concerns all democracies and our vision of what rights does a man have,” stated attorney Antoine Vey.
The WikiLeaks founder is currently being held in the U.K.’s Belmarsh Prison. His extradition trial is expected to end in May.
Assange’s lawyers argued their client has already suffered enough and must be released.
“This is a man that was prevented from sun exposure for years,” said Vey. “He wasn’t able to walk in an open place and he endured huge pressure.”
Earlier this week, the White House said President Trump was not considering a pardon for Assange.
Spanish human rights lawyer and Julian Assange defense team member Baltasar Garzon, second left, John Shipton, the father of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, center, and lawyer Eric Dupond-Moretti attend a press conference in Paris, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2020.
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