Wiki leak

[IAN 2411]

His best chance there is that the US authorities have shown their hand by saying they want to charge him with espionage, which can carry the death penalty. As a general rule, we don't extradite European citizens to courts that might send them to be executed, and there would be outcry across the continent if the Swedish government made an exception for Assange.

How can the Americans charge him with espionage, if three million Americans already had privi to the same secrets? That has to be a bluff.

[leo9]

How can the Americans charge him with espionage, if three million Americans already had privi to the same secrets? That has to be a bluff.

My mistake, not espionage, treason. Which is worse, in terms of the sentences available.

You might think that a Swedish citizen can't be charged with treason to America. But as I understand it, the guy who passed the files to him is in jail awaiting trial for treason (and being seriously abused there, but that's to be expected.) If there is a prima facie case that Assange invited him to do so, rather than simply being given the disc out of the blue, he can be charged as an accessory.