‘Not Looking Good’: Judge Upholds UK Arrest Warrant for WikiLeaks’ Assange

LONDON (AP) — The Latest on the British arrest warrant for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange (all times local):

2:40 p.m.

A British judge has upheld an arrest warrant for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who has spent more than five years evading the law inside Ecuador’s London embassy.

Judge Emma Arbuthnot wasn’t persuaded by arguments by Assange’s lawyers that it was no longer in the public interest to arrest him for jumping bail in 2012 and seeking shelter in the embassy to avoid extradition to Sweden, where prosecutors were investigating allegations of sexual assault and rape made by two women. He denied the allegations.

Arbuthnot said Tuesday she finds “arrest is a proportionate response” to Assange’s actions.

Not looking good. So far, judge is just defending UK state actions.

— Assange Defence (@AssangeDefence) February 13, 2018

Pulling security to get me safely on the balcony six times in six years for a few minutes turns into this: https://t.co/Y46PVZ9C5x

— Assange Defence (@AssangeDefence) February 13, 2018

10:25 a.m.

A lawyer for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is citing a report by a United Nations committee to argue that a British arrest warrant issued in 2012 after Assange skipped bail should be thrown out.

Lawyer Mark Summers said the U.N. committee’s report concluded that Assange was being arbitrarily detained, adding that the 5½ years Assange has spent inside Ecuador’s London embassy are “adequate, if not severe” punishment for his actions.

Some lawyers who have followed the case said the arguments were unlikely to sway the judge who is set to rule on Tuesday afternoon whether to quash or uphold the warrant.

Even if the judge lifts the British arrest warrant, Assange’s legal problems may not be over. He suspects there is a secret U.S. grand jury indictment against him for WikiLeaks’ publication of classified documents, and that American authorities will seek his extradition.