Wikileaks

Judge Vanessa Baraitser has ruled against releasing WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange on bail: "I am satisfied that there are substantial grounds for believing that if Mr Assange is released today, he would fail to surrender to court to face the appeal proceedings."

Rebecca Vincent, Director of International Campaigns at NGO Reporters without Borders, called the court's decision to refuse bail "unnecessarily cruel."

Jennifer Robinson, Julian Assange's lawyer, told a court in London she observed a meeting when Dana Rohrabacher and Charles Johnson made an offer of pardon from Donald Trump.
The pardon would be given if the WikiLeaks founder provided the source for the 2016 hacking of the Democratic National Committee emails.Assange's lawyer Trump offered to pardon Assange if he provided source for Democratic emails, lawyer says

Court hearings in the U.S. extradition case against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange will resume in September after being postponed from later this month because of the coronavirus pandemic outbreak.

Judge Vanessa Baraitser said it would not be possible for it to recommence this month because of strict restrictions on gatherings to curb the spread of Covid-19.

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange was denied bail on Wednesday after his defense lawers argued a release from Belmarsh Prison in London would mitigate his "high risk" of catching coronavirus.

Assange's lawyer, Edward Fitzgerald, told Westminster Magistrates Court Assange has prior chest and tooth infections and osteoporis, placing him at a higher risk from the virus.

However, Judge Vannessa Baraitser rejected the arguments, arguing that based on Assange's prior conduct, there are "substantial grounds" to believe that if released he would not return to face extradition hearing. "As matters stand today, this global pandemic does not, as of itself, yet provide grounds for Mr Assange’s release," she said.