Biden considers Australia's request to drop Assange prosecution

The Wikileaks founder and his allies have spent years fighting against his extradition to the US while he remains in custody in the UK.

Transcript

00:00 US President Joe Biden says he is considering Australia`s request to drop the prosecution

00:07 case against Julian Assange.

00:09 The founder of WikiLeaks has been the object of more than a decade-long prosecution by

00:13 the US justice for espionage by publishing a stock of US classified documents online.

00:19 The Australian activist was indicted on 18 charges, one for computer misuse by the US

00:25 court almost 15 years ago.

00:27 Solving the Assange case is a diplomatic priority of the current Australian PM, Anthony Albanese.

00:33 Well, this is an encouraging statement from President Biden. I have said that we have

00:38 raised on behalf of Mr. Assange, Australia`s national interest that enough is enough, that

00:46 this needs to be brought to a conclusion and we`ve raised it at each level of government

00:52 in every possible way.

00:57 Last March, the London High Court temporarily froze a US request of extradition as British

01:02 judges are waiting for the legal assurance Assange will not face the death penalty.

01:06 The London High Court is set to evaluate the US`s reply in May 2024.

01:11 (children cheering)