It was an ignoble end for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.
He was also told that the American government had issued an arrest warrant for him over alleged computer crimes.
We dont know how the latter will develop.
Assange will undoubtedly fight his extradition to the last possible point of appeal.
It will be a long and tedious process.
The US authorities are relentless in extradition proceedings.
Like a dog with a bone, they simply wont let go of their prize.
It’s free, every week, in your inbox.
McKinnon merely wanted to know if Uncle Sam was hiding UFOs.
In the grand scheme of things, he didnt do that much harm to the US government.
Perhaps evenJulius and Ethel Rosenberg?
Assange will be extradited.
It isnt a matter of if, but rather when.
But first, hell have to serve his time in the UK.
And today, he was sentenced to 50 weeks imprisonment.
Thats a steep penalty, especially considering the maximum sentence for this crime is one year in prison.
He deliberately placed himself beyond the reaches of the legal system.
There has been no trial in Sweden.
Its not been proven if Assange robbed these women of their dignity.
One thing is certain though: by hiding in the Ecuadorian embassy, he robbed them of justice.
So, is Julian Assange contrite at all?
As contrition goes, its just one stop away from Im sorry youre upset.
But the fact is, Assange does have a lot of people to say sorry to.
The two women in Sweden, who will probably never know the vindication of hearing a guilty verdict?
Yeah, they deserve an apology.
The British taxpayers who wasted 16 million over seven years trying to arrest an antipodean narcissist?
Instead, he had to be dragged out.
But perhaps most of all, Assange owes a massive, groveling apology to those who believed in him.
Although many of Assanges backers were public figures in some form, they were by no means rich.
Sheultimately was forced to forfeit 10,000.
Julian Assange will have a long time to think about what hes done.
And Im not talking about the aforementioned 50-week sentence.
Extradition proceedings, if fought, can drag on longer than a Peter Jackson film marathon.
Lets look specifically at computer crimes, for thats what Assange has (so far) been charged with.
Lauri Love was first indicted in 2013.
Hewon his final appeal against extradition in 2018.
Extradition proceedings against Gary McKinnon commenced in 2015.
He won his case in 2012, afterthen-Home Secretary Theresa May blocked the extradition process.
In both of the examples cited, the defendants used every single avenue of appeal available to them.
you’ve got the option to bet Assange will do the same.
I dont want to diminish the work of Wikileaks.
In its early years, it spoke truth to power and held institutions to account.
It shone a light on the corrupt dealings of dictators.
Fromsecretive private bankstofar-right political parties,entertainment conglomeratestosuperpowers, WikiLeaks pulled no punches.
Its death knell was that, in the end, the organization became inseparable from Julian Assange the person.
Assange was WikiLeaks sole recognizable face.
He held an almost autocratic sway over the organization.
Assange would like to think of himself as a quixotic advocate for justice.
Someone who fought a principled battle against an adversary, no matter the personal cost.
And perhaps, at one point, that was true.
to make it avoid justice.
He only has himself to blame.
TNW Conference 2019 is coming!
