Julian Assange

District Judge Vanessa Baraitser ruled that the WikiLeaks founder must be held in custody while the U.S. government appeals an extradition request.

The WikiLeaks founder took refuge for seven years inside the Ecuadorian Embassy in London. He was removed in April 2019 and imprisoned while he awaited a decision on his extradition.

The U.S. government wants the WikiLeaks co-founder to face 18 charges related to illegally obtaining and disclosing classified data. Assange's lawyers argue that the case is politically motivated.

Despite her decision, Swedish prosecutor Eva-Marie Persson said on Tuesday, "I would like to emphasize that the injured party has submitted a credible and reliable version of events."

But Swedish prosecutor Eva-Marie Persson says the court agrees with her on key points, including that there is "still probable cause for the suspicions regarding rape."

Lawyer Gareth Peirce told the court in London that the WikiLeaks founder was "not very well." The U.S. is pursuing criminal charges against Assange, including a violation of the Espionage Act.

"Facing jail again, potentially today, doesn't change my stance," the former Army private said before the hearing. The judge also ordered her to be fined every day she is in custody after 30 days.

Manning is due to return to federal court on May 16. Despite an offer of immunity, she has refused to answer questions about WikiLeaks, saying she already has shared everything she knows.

The WikiLeaks founder said he did not wish to surrender himself "for doing journalism that has won many awards and protected many people." The extradition case could take many months, the judge said.

The WikiLeaks founder, who had lived in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London since 2012, delayed justice, the judge said. He faces a hearing Thursday on an extradition request from the U.S. government.