British court allows US to appeal Assange extradition decision

Britain’s high court has allowed the United States to appeal a recent decision against extraditing WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.

Assange’s case will be set for a hearing, though no date has been set, according to The Associated Press.

Assange was indicted on more than a dozen counts of espionage and other charges after publishing classified American military and intelligence documents years ago, arguing that he was acting as a journalist.

He was arrested in London in 2010 at the request of Swedish officials, who at the time said they were looking to investigate him over accusations of rape and sexual assault. He was held in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London until 2019, when he was evicted and arrested by British police.

Wednesday’s ruling comes after a lower court ruled against extraditing Assange in January, arguing that he would pose a risk to himself while detained in the United States due to his mental health. 

District Judge Vanessa Baraitser said at the time that Assange was a “depressed and sometimes despairing man” who possesses the “intellect and determination” to take his own life if he was turned over to the U.S.

In February, the Biden administration said it intends to seek his extradition so he can face the charges.