Professor Ian Weinstein was quoted in a USA Today article about the recent arrest of Julian Assange and the likelihood that he will be extradited to the U.S. to face criminal charges.
For now, though, the charges against Assange focus on the 2010 disclosures WikiLeaks made with the help of Manning, a transgender ex-soldier now known as Chelsea. Prosecutors said it was one of the most extensive leaks of classified secrets in U.S. history.
It’s not clear how quickly Assange may be extradited to the U.S. He will be entitled to a hearing in London, in a highly charged proceeding with dramatic political undercurrents.
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The Obama administration reportedly considered charging Assange but held back in part because of concerns that it would chill the First Amendment rights of American journalists who publish classified information. Assange will undoubtedly press that legal argument, which may enjoy significant public support.“(But) it will be a hard defense to mount as a matter of criminal law doctrine,” said Ian Weinstein, a criminal law professor at Fordham University.
Other criminal law experts say U.S. prosecutors are likely to add charges to Assange’s case once he lands in the U.S.
“Clearly he faces tremendous legal jeopardy,” Weinstein said.
