BREAKING: Swedish Prosecutors Drop Julian Assange Rape Investigation
Source: Guardian UK
Swedish prosecutors drop Julian Assange rape investigation
Swedens director of public prosecution, Marianne Ny, says she has decided to discontinue the investigation into WikiLeaks founder
Press Association and Reuters
Friday 19 May 2017 05.14 EDT
Swedish prosecutors said on Friday they would drop a preliminary investigation into an allegation of rape against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange on Friday, bringing to an end a seven-year legal standoff.
Chief Prosecutor Marianne Ny has today decided to discontinue the preliminary investigation regarding suspected rape concerning Julian Assange, the prosecutors office said in a statement.
Assange, 45, has lived in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London since 2012, after taking refuge there to avoid extradition to Sweden over the allegation of rape, which he denies.
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/media/2017/may/19/swedish-prosecutors-drop-julian-assange-investigation?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
BumRushDaShow
(140,566 posts)Chief Prosecutor Marianne Ny has today decided to shut down the preliminary investigation regarding suspected rape involving Julian Assange, the prosecutors office said in a statement.
The decision does not mean that Mr. Assange is in the clear. The Justice Department was reconsidering last month whether to charge Mr. Assange for his role in the disclosure of highly classified information.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/19/world/europe/julian-assange-sweden-rape.html
SoCalNative
(4,613 posts)to give him his walking papers then.
DetlefK
(16,448 posts)ucrdem
(15,700 posts)per Reuters:
However, London police issued a statement after the Swedish announcement making clear Assange was still wanted by them.
"Westminster Magistrates' Court issued a warrant for the arrest of Julian Assange following him failing to surrender to the court on the 29 June 2012," the police said.
"The Metropolitan Police Service is obliged to execute that warrant should he leave the Embassy."
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-ecuador-sweden-assange-idUSKCN18F0TC
padah513
(2,670 posts)To quote Admiral Ackbar, "It's a trap!"
longship
(40,416 posts)riderinthestorm
(23,272 posts)Doesn't excuse his actions in regard to HRC tho.
I'm guessing his lifespan on the street is going to be pretty short. Too many folks want him gone.
pnwmom
(109,445 posts)Or maybe they know that if he leaves the embassy, he's subject to being arrested and deported to the US.
VigilantG
(374 posts)NobodyHere
(2,810 posts)pnwmom
(109,445 posts)still_one
(95,780 posts)innocent or guilty. It simply means that don't want to expend anymore time or money pursuing it.
R B Garr
(17,357 posts)his circumstances to cover. That's what it seems like.
riversedge
(72,680 posts)http://www.reuters.com/article/us-ecuador-sweden-assange-idUSKCN18F0TC
Big Story 12 | Fri May 19, 2017 | 8:00am EDT
Sweden drops Assange investigation, UK police says he still faces arrest
FILE PHOTO: WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange makes a speech from the balcony of the Ecuadorian Embassy, in central London, Britain February 5, 2016. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls/File Photo
By Simon Johnson and Michael Holden | STOCKHOLM/LONDON
Swedish prosecutors dropped an investigation on Friday of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange over a rape allegation, but British police said he would still be arrested if he left the Ecuadorean embassy in London where he has been holed up for nearly five years.
Assange, 45, took refuge in the embassy in June 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden over the rape allegation, which he denies.
He feared Sweden would hand him over to the United States to face prosecution over WikiLeaks' publication of thousands of classified military and diplomatic documents in one of the largest information leaks in U.S. history.
Swedish Chief Prosecutor Marianne Ny said the investigation had not been able to proceed because of legal obstacles. ......................
wallyworld2
(375 posts)That there is no one in chumps administration or justice department that will want to extradite him to America for his part in last years election interference.
Bigredhunk
(1,464 posts)Tanuki
(15,235 posts)smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)Tanuki
(15,235 posts)joeybee12
(56,177 posts)Sarcasm. She's an idiot