Further legalities will round out 2011 for WikiLeaks founder, Julian Assange after it was confirmed on Monday that he has the right to appeal to Britain’s highest court; The Supreme Court.
The appeal is to fight the extradition request made by Sweden to try him on two charges of rape.
It is good news for Assange, who claims the charges are politically motivated.
However, from the negative point o f view, if he does not win the actual appeal, then he will be extradited to Sweden. It is believed by both Assange and supporters that this will pave the way for extradition to the United States which has currently employed a Grand Jury in Virginia to attempt to apply clauses of the Espionage Act to the Cablegate.
I ponder though, is the situation at the moment that bad for America? By Assange winning the right to appeal it reaps benefits for the Star Spangled nation by allowing more time to research trying to prosecute the Australian Journalist, as well as taking heat off them for the time being.
The latter factor is important to note because in the past America’s treatment of those in Guantanamo Bay has garnered controversy, and if Assange were to be extradited to the United States, it would, as a public issue cause a more prolonged (and negative) focus on the country when the charges are yet to be identified.
So while Assange’s right to appeal is enormously positive, you can’t help but consider that it may also benefit the country opposed the most to him.
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