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Sweden drops Julian Assange rape investigation

bbc.co.uk

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Re: Sweden drops Julian Assange rape investigation

#91
post #8
post #3

Anyone know why they dropped it?

Because it was a shady "character assassination" attempt without real standing in the first place... "*The woman of whom Mr. Assange is accused of the offence of "lesser rape" (a technical term in Swedish law) sent an SMS to a friend saying that she "did not want to accuse JA [of] anything" and "it was the police who made up the charges". The other woman tweeted in 2013 that she had never been raped. Both women’s tes…

[deleted]

Re: Sweden drops Julian Assange rape investigation

#92

Five years living in a single room, not able to leave or walk outside. Millions of pounds/dollars spent enforcing the same. A gigantic show of idiocy from both sides.

All he had to do was answer some questions to the Swedish prosecutor. I still fail to understand why Sweden, NOT a NATO member, would have been more dangerous than the UK. Also, Sweden is not exactly the worst place in the world to spend prison time (which was only the worst case scenario.) Answer the questions, clarify everything, and walk free. He chose himself not to answer. He chose to dump all the rich people wh…

Sweden has an extradition treaty with the US. Also, the Swedes are unlike Germans, in that they are more eager to be seen to be doing the right thing and helping other countries than upholding principles. So it's quite likely they would have eagerly extradited him if the US asked politely.

Re: Sweden drops Julian Assange rape investigation

#93
post #49

David Allen Green‏, Law and policy commentator at @FT: >It is now easier for US to obtain Assange's extradition, if they (ever) wanted it. >Now only UK's consent required, not UK and Sweden. https://twitter.com/davidallengreen/status/86550564980685619...

Also he is still not free, UK made it clear that they would arrest him in first opportunity. http://www.reuters.com/article/us-ecuador-sweden-assange-bri...

Because he skipped bail, which is against the law.

They would arrest anybody who did the same thing.

Re: Sweden drops Julian Assange rape investigation

#94
post #14

What about the secret US charges? I honestly don't understand how in our democracy there is even such a concept as "secret charges". It just sounds mind-bogglingly corrupt and out of place.

The closest thing to 'secret charges' is a secret indictment. This is a normal grand jury indictment, except its existence is not made public.

"Prosecutors may request a secret indictment if they are concerned that someone may flee if he or she becomes aware that trial proceedings are being set in motion. It is also possible to ask for one to protect witnesses and other people involved with the case. "

http://www.wisegeek.org/what-is-a-secret-indictment.htm

Re: Sweden drops Julian Assange rape investigation

#95

Five years living in a single room, not able to leave or walk outside. Millions of pounds/dollars spent enforcing the same. A gigantic show of idiocy from both sides.

All he had to do was answer some questions to the Swedish prosecutor. I still fail to understand why Sweden, NOT a NATO member, would have been more dangerous than the UK. Also, Sweden is not exactly the worst place in the world to spend prison time (which was only the worst case scenario.) Answer the questions, clarify everything, and walk free. He chose himself not to answer. He chose to dump all the rich people wh…

So why did they not ring him up and asked him?

Re: Sweden drops Julian Assange rape investigation

#96
post #70
post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Assange agenda was always anti-Americanism at expense of everyone else, so he just stayed true to himself. Many of his then liberal supporters were turning a blind eye to this, until it spectacularly bit them in the ass.

What about the "Macron leak"?

I absolutely understand he coordinates with Russia, just that it wasn't some surprising development. He has a long history cooperating with dictatorships, just that it wasn't objectionable to his then fans. Nothing has changed, except the pro-liberty, pro-privacy, Guy Fawkes mask-wearing crowd is on the receiving end of his treatment now.

Re: Sweden drops Julian Assange rape investigation

#97
post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not sure about 'secret charges' but there are these recent charges. [1] [1] http://edition.cnn.com/2017/04/20/politics/julian-assange-wi...

They don't specifically state what they are charging him with in that article, just that they "seek to put him in jail".

That's even worse imo. They can't find something he has done wrong but still want to imprison him.

Re: Sweden drops Julian Assange rape investigation

#98
post #80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

IANAL, but fleeing from an arrest warrant is very definitely illegal in the UK.

Illegal, yes, but is it still prosecutable if/after the arrest warrant has been dropped?

Yes. Failure to surrender is a separate offence. The Met has already said that he's still wanted in connection with that charge, but they'll be scaling back resources as it's a much less serious offence than rape.

Re: Sweden drops Julian Assange rape investigation

#99

Five years living in a single room, not able to leave or walk outside. Millions of pounds/dollars spent enforcing the same. A gigantic show of idiocy from both sides.

All he had to do was answer some questions to the Swedish prosecutor. I still fail to understand why Sweden, NOT a NATO member, would have been more dangerous than the UK. Also, Sweden is not exactly the worst place in the world to spend prison time (which was only the worst case scenario.) Answer the questions, clarify everything, and walk free. He chose himself not to answer. He chose to dump all the rich people wh…

Not being a NATO member doesn't mean they don't collaborate with the CIA:

Swedish officials handed over al-Zari and another Egyptian, Ahmed Agiza, to CIA operatives on December 18, 2001 for transfer from Stockholm to Cairo. Both men were asylum seekers in Sweden, and suspected of terrorist activities in Egypt, where torture of such suspects is commonplace. (...) Despite post-return monitoring by Swedish diplomats, both men were tortured in Egypt.

https://www.hrw.org/news/2006/11/09/sweden-violated-torture-...

Re: Sweden drops Julian Assange rape investigation

#100
post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

He still can't leave. The US is just going to kidnap him off the streets of London. Wouldn't be the first time.

Or the UK secret service can do it. Wouldn't be the first time.

Out of interest, when was the last time the UK secret service did this?
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