Julian Assange wins small but important UK court victory

A British court ruled that the WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange can appeal a decision that would allow for his extradition to the United States to face charges under the Espionage Act

He is accused of obtaining and publishing secret government documents.

The latest twist in the long-running case comes after a decision last month that he could be extradited to the United States to face the charges.

A small. but important win

The decision to extradite Mr. Assange has turned on whether prison conditions in the United States during his detention would be too harsh for his mental health, which his lawyers argue has grown increasingly fragile.

Last year, a lower court judge in Britain rejected the extradition request, saying Mr. Assange might be driven to suicide if he was held at the highest security prison in the United States.

But last month, Britain’s High Court said that it was satisfied by assurances made by the Biden administration that Mr. Assange would not be held in this facility.

What he’s charged with

The charges against Mr. Assange stem from the 2010 publication of diplomatic and military files on his website, WikiLeaks, after they were leaked by Chelsea Manning, a former Army intelligence analyst.

Assange spent years living in an embassy in London. When he left, he was immediately arrested.

The indictments, which were handed down during the Trump administration, accuse Mr. Assange of participating in a criminal hacking conspiracy by offering to aid Ms. Manning in covering her tracks and also encouraging hackers to obtain and send secret material.