Judicial Scrutiny Meets Farfetched Allegations in Assange’s Hearing as His Health Deteriorates

Julian Assange’s extradition hearing last month held few surprises. The narrative of allegations was almost predictable.

One allegation "People 'disappeared' after Assange and WikiLeaks blended hacking with journalism" stood out, countered by a more receptive judicial bench than usual.

Two judges showed unprecedented interest in Assange’s fate, posing questions not asked before, unsettling Clair Dobbin, KC, acting for the Americans.

Good legal teams gauge how proceedings fare, and the interest shown by the Bench was a victory, without necessarily building false hope.

Unlike other judges in previous Assange hearings, who showed no interest and asked no questions, this Bench was different.

The US allegations, again, were farfetched fiction in their vengeful pursuit of Assange for exposing US war crimes.

Dobbin told the court lives were placed at risk by Assange's decision to "knowingly publish materials with names unredacted."

"People living under authoritarian regimes 'disappeared'” Dobbin said, “after Assange blended hacking with reporting, 'stole vast amounts' of classified documents, and published them on his WikiLeaks website."

She further claimed Assange encouraged former Intelligence Officer Chelsea Manning to "steal" classified documents, putting lives at risk by his decision to "knowingly publish the materials with the names unredacted."

"There are individuals who have subsequently disappeared since the publication of the cables. Many of them lived in war zones or under oppressive regimes," she said.

Received overly sensitive documents from Manning and stealing, are vastly different, which makes the US’s case weak and pathetically palpable.

However, the allegations illustrate America’s desperation to 'get Assange' and attack a free press.

In previous court hearings, the US admitted there was no proof of anyone being harmed because of the leaks.

Furthermore, the same admissions were made during Bradley (now Chelsea) Manning’s trial hearings.

General Robert Gates headed the Wikileaks investigation looking into whether anyone was harmed but failed to find evidence that people had been. 

For the Royal Court of Justice, it must show it can set aside geopolitical relations and deliver Assange the justice he’s been repeatedly denied.

The engagement Assange's legal team garnered from the Bench suggests there may be a glimmer of hope, arguing the Espionage Act has never been used to prosecute publishers before.

Assange’s, brother Gabriel Shipton, who’s been present at most of the legal hearings, was present at the UK Royal Court of Justice.

During the February 20-21 hearing, Shipton said there was a sense the judges had to engage. “Now it's got to the High Court, they can't get away with what they've done in the past.”

Assange’s fate continues to remain unknown until later this month once both judges finish reviewing additional material provided.

Critical about the transparency surrounding the extradition process, Shipton said, “it’s been a struggle to get to where we are now, to have the hearing.”

“It’s obvious it's a punishment by process taking place.”

Following the conclusion of the hearing, Shipton visited Assange at Belmarsh.

Shipton said he was shocked with the condition his brother was in. “Julian wasn't in a good way this time around. I don't know how much how much more gas he's got left in the tank.”

Should the US’s bid to extradite Assange fail, the Americans will according to Shipton, appeal the decision. “We expect them to appeal.”

“The court process still has a way to go, what needs to happen is for serious diplomatic negotiation to take place with the US.”

Shipton who’s been outspoken about the Federal Government’s lack of pressure applied to the US Government to have Assange returned to Australia, said the Australian Government must step up its pressure.

“What's it going to take to say, hang on, we need to make sure in any future ongoing diplomatic issues with the US, Australia must make Julian part of any negotiations.”

“Australia can longer treat Julian’s matter in isolation. He must become a central part of any future and current diplomatic discussions,” Shipton said.

In November last year, Shipton travelled to Washington with a number of Australian politicians and the political adviser to Assange’s Australian campaign team, Rohan Wenn.

Together, they attended a series of congressional meetings in Washington.

According to Wenn, the meetings were overwhelmingly positive, but it was clear the Americans had largely forgotten about the issue but were shocked to learn nine out of 10 Australians wanted Assange returned to Australia.

Throughout the two-day hearing, leading KCs for Assange outlined the systematic war crimes committed by US forces and its allies in Iraq and Afghanistan—massacres, torture, drone killings of journalists, and Assange's role in exposing them.

During the hearing, Dobbin failed to address what the documents revealed, because had she done so, they would’ve exposed the US’s criminality.

Sources attending the hearing said Dobbin didn’t discuss US war crimes, the 15,000 civilian killings in Iraq that were exposed, or the US’s torture and rendition program.

Instead, she simply changed the subject.

On February 20, at the time of Assange’s hearing, the US vetoed a ceasefire resolution in Palestine.

The veto is a window looking into the US’s descension as a country whose core values were underpinned by the ideals of freedom, liberty, democracy, prosperity, human rights, and justice.

That no longer reflects what it proudly and so shamelessly boasts, instead it’s the antithesis of everything it says it represents.

Time has been abundant for Assange, and waiting to learn his fate is a destiny no one should have to endure—especially for a crime never committed.

Assange is a victim of US vengeance, and his fate rests with the Royal Court of Justice and its ability to separate itself from political influence.

If it can’t, then the irony of where the case has been heard means justice would have been robbed in a place where it should be served.

If not, then the death of three institutions is imminent—Julian Assange, Freedom of the Press, and Free Speech.

Speaking outside the Court at the conclusion of the hearing, Assange’s wife Stella, spoke to thousands of supporters, telling them, "Shame on those who put journalists in prison."

“Shame on those who murdered journalists, shame on those who are afraid of the truth.”

She said, “That's not a society I want to live in. We're better than that. The UK courts are also under scrutiny.”

“They’ve heard about the murder plots against my husband. They’re on notice that the country trying to extradite him wants to murder him.

“They don't deny it. They just change the subject.”

Assange also told supporters the case against her husband is brought by criminals who want to maintain their impunity, who want to avoid the courts.

“They are the fugitives from justice. Not Julian. Julian is justice. He is transparency.”

The clock is ticking and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, must pick up the phone and tell President Biden, to release Assange NOW.

If he doesn’t, who knows how much longer Assange has to live?