US set to appeal UK refusal to extradite WikiLeaks’ Assange

By JILL LAWLESS
Associated Press

LONDON (AP) — The U.S. government is scheduled to ask Britain’s High Court to overturn a judge’s decision that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange should not be sent to the United States to face espionage charges. A lower court judge who refused extradition in January ruled Assange was likely to kill himself if held under harsh U.S. prison conditions. Lawyers for the U.S. questioned the psychiatric evidence and argued that Assange could resist harming himself. Two judges will hear the appeal on Wednesday and Thursday, though they are not expected to rule immediately. Assange had been expected to attend the hearing by video link from prison, but his lawyer said the 50-year-old Australian “doesn’t feel able to attend the proceedings.”