Julian Assange denied permission to appeal by UK’s top court
Published:Monday | March 14, 2022 | 2:32 PM
LONDON (AP) — Britain's top court on Monday refused WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange permission to appeal against a decision to extradite him to the United States to face spying charges.
The court said it refused because the case “didn't raise an arguable point of law.”
Assange has sought for years to avoid a trial in the US on a series of charges related to WikiLeaks' publication of a huge trove of classified documents more than a decade ago.
A British district court judge had initially rejected a US extradition request on the grounds that Assange was likely to kill himself if held under harsh US prison conditions.
US authorities later provided assurances that the WikiLeaks founder wouldn't face the severe treatment that his lawyers said would put his physical and mental health at risk.
In December, the High Court overturned the lower court's decision, saying that the US promises were enough to guarantee that Assange would be treated humanely.
Monday's news narrows Assange's options, but his defence team may still seek to take his case to the European Court of Human Rights or challenge the original judge's other findings.
The case is now expected to be formally sent to British Home Secretary Priti Patel for approval.
Barry Pollack, Assange's US-based lawyer, said Monday that it was “extremely disappointing” that Britain's Supreme Court is unwilling to hear the appeal.
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