Home   News   National   Article

MPs urge Joe Biden to drop Julian Assange extradition bid


By PA News

Easier access to your trusted, local news. Subscribe to a digital package and support local news publishing.



Click here to sign up to our free newsletters!

A group of British MPs have written to the US president urging him to drop his administration’s attempt to extradite WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.

An open letter to Joe Biden, who is in the UK for the G7 summit, said dropping the prosecution would be a “clarion call for freedom”.

Mr Assange is being detained in Belmarsh prison in London while the US continues an attempt to extradite him over the activities of WikiLeaks.

Joe Biden at the G7 summit (Leon Neal/PA)
Joe Biden at the G7 summit (Leon Neal/PA)

The MPs said they had hoped Mr Biden’s victory might be the occasion to draw a line under the prosecution.

They added: “Unfortunately, the US Department of Justice is still pursuing this case, leaving Julian Assange facing a third year of incarceration in Belmarsh high-security prison.

“The effect of your predecessor’s decision to take a criminal case against a member of the press working in our country is to restrict the scope of permissible press activities here, and set a precedent that others will no doubt exploit.

“The case against Mr Assange weakens the right to publish important information that the government finds uncomfortable. Indeed, this value is central to a free and open society.

Jeremy Corbyn and Diane Abbott are among the signatories (Stefan Rousseau/PA)
Jeremy Corbyn and Diane Abbott are among the signatories (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

“The case against Mr Assange also undermines public confidence in our legal systems. Our countries are also increasingly confronted with the contradiction of advocating for press freedom abroad while holding Mr Assange for years in the UK’s most notorious prison at the request of the US government.

“We appeal to you to drop this prosecution, an act that would be a clarion call for freedom that would echo around the globe.”

The letter was signed by 24 MPs including former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, Labour MPs Diane Abbott and John McDonnell and Green MP Caroline Lucas.

Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.

Keep up-to-date with important news from your community, and access exclusive, subscriber only content online. Read a copy of your favourite newspaper on any device via the HNM App.

Learn more


This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies - Learn More