He's had enough - So he's coming out.

Lapin

From Sky News

Julian Assange could be considering leaving the Ecuadorian embassy and handing himself in to police, Sky News understands.

After spending two years holed up inside the central London building, the Australian is holding a news conference this morning - when he is expected to spell out his next move.

Widespread reports suggest the WikiLeaks website founder needs hospital treatment for heart and lungs problems.

But, under continuing surveillance since he requested political asylum from Ecuador in June 2012 and with police stationed outside the embassy around the clock, he will be arrested if he leaves.

The 43-year-old has been investigated by US authorities since WikiLeaks published leaked military and diplomatic documents in 2010.

He was granted asylum in 2012 and is facing extradition to Sweden over alleged sexual offences.

More follows...


I reckon his decision to give up is down to a number of things.

1, He realises, he is no longer front page news and most people don't give a toss.

2, The Ecuadorians are sick of him and want him out from under their feet. Who could blame them after 26 months of feeding him and putting him up.

3, Ill health. Well everyone facing charges like his will claim poor health in the hope of getting better treatment. Why should Assange be any different? In fairness, being cooped up in a room for two years doesn't help. (Although he might have to get used to that).

4, It dawned on him that Scotland Yard were putting different policemen on watch outside the embassy, and that no matter how long he was beseiged in there, they wuld always have the manpower to have a constant guard outside. So the sooner he moves, the sooner he'll get the inevitable out of the way.

Canis Lupus

I'd say 2 and 4 are the most likely.

Tangatagamadda Chaddabinga Bonga Bungo

It's strange what this world does to whistle blowers and truth tellers. Very very strange.

Lapin

Tangatagamadda Chaddabinga Bonga Bungo wrote: »

It‘s strange what this world does to whistle blowers and truth tellers. Very very strange.

Threatening to extradite someone for sex offence charges ?

Strange carry on all right.

Chance The Fapper

Lapin wrote: »

Threatening to extradite someone for sex offence charges ?

Strange carry on all right.

You don't think it's odd that he just happened to be accused of these things after leaking sensitive government information?

Bray Header

I read in the Guardian last week that the UK have spent over 14 million of her majesty's quids on monitoring him

iDave

I'm coming out, I want the world to know, gotta let it show.

mikeym

Why dont he come to Ireland for asylum.

A few pints of the black stuff will make him better

Banjo String

Here's another Julian thinking of coming out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ktiJUUBLPo

EyeSight

Chance The Fapper wrote: »

You don't think it's odd that he just happened to be accused of these things after leaking sensitive government information?

Not really. I think people give orgs like the CIA too much credit, probably from movies. History has shown that their plans f**k up a lot or leaks(ironically enough) always get out.

Bray Header wrote: »

I read in the Guardian last week that the UK have spent over 14 million of her majesty's quids on monitoring him

I believe you read that, but i can never believe figures like these. Lets say they have 2 cops monitoring at all times, in 8 hour shifts. That's 6 cops who would be on a salary of over 1 million pounds per year. Maybe they're including the price of the cop cars, uniforms, training them etc.

jellyboy

iDave wrote: »

I'm coming out, I want the world to know, gotta let it show.

Well Done dave on coming out,is this an official coming out thread?

Shouldn't there be a rep from the Gay community to support peeps?

old_aussie

He's had enough, so he's coming out

Will Ellen be there to support him

stunmer

What is it about the name Julian and coming out?

sbsquarepants

Oh Assange,.... whatever. I thought this thread would be about Louis Walsh!:D

Gongoozler

I watched a documentary about him a while back, and I was shocked about the security assault / rape thing. It's crazy what they consider rape. And I was thinking it was a set up but as far as I remember he admitted it, did he not?

Can't really say I'm surprised that they're going after him for what he did, America would hardly do any less.

everlast75

Banjo String wrote: »

Here's another Julian thinking of coming out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ktiJUUBLPo

stunmer wrote: »

What is it about the name Julian and coming out?

"I like my beer cold, my TV loud and my homosexuals flaming"

RoboRat

Or he could have spent the last 2 years digging up dirt so that he has some leverage against the authorities and now he is willing to play ball...

Jester252

About time he faces the music and stops hiding from his sexual assault charges.

Amirani

Jester252 wrote: »

About time he faces the music and stops hiding from his sexual assault charges.

He hasn't been charged with sexual assault. The extradition request is for questioning, no charges have been made as of yet.

SharpshooterTom

Jester252 wrote: »

About time he faces the music and stops hiding from his sexual assault charges.

You don't think he'll be facing bigger charges in the US? I heard some of the Fox News pundits suggest him and Snowden should face the death penalty if they are ever charged in the US. Could the US execute a non US citizen?

Menas

I dont know if he is guilty or innocent of the charges in sweden but he should certainly man up and face those charges.

He is not stupid, he should have known a long time ago that this would never go away...so holing up in the Ecuador embassy for 2 years seemed a waste of effort to me.

But our Julian would not let that get in the way of a good story.

And just because he is a hero for wikileaks does not mean that he is innocent of the charges in sweden.

Amirani

ThomasFlynn wrote: »

You don't think he'll be facing bigger charges in the US? I heard some of the Fox News pundits suggest him and Snowden should face the death penalty if they are ever charged in the US. Could the US execute a non US citizen?

Yes they've done it in the past. However, EU law stipulates that extradition can't occur when a suspect may face the death penalty. So it'd more than likely be a Chelsea Manning esque 35 years he'd be given for telling the world about war crimes.

SharpshooterTom

Diego Simeone wrote: »

Yes they've done it in the past. However, EU law stipulates that extradition can't occur when a suspect may face the death penalty. So it'd more than likely be a Chelsea Manning esque 35 years he'd be given for telling the world about war crimes.

I doubt the US would care about what EU law states, once he's in the US, they can do what they like with him.

Amirani

ThomasFlynn wrote: »

I doubt the US would care about what EU law states, once he's in the US, they can do what they like with him.

Well they'd have to give assurances to this effect, otherwise neither Sweden nor the UK could grant extradition.

Augmerson

Trigger Happy wrote: »

And just because he is a hero for wikileaks does not mean that he is innocent of the charges in sweden.

I think in the Swedish legal system you are innocent until proven guilty.

The charges relate to non-consensual behaviour within consensual sexual encounters. That is, sex without using a condom, which can be considered rape in Sweden.

mad muffin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzpP0KbjHU8

Ranchu

Augmerson wrote: »

I think in the Swedish legal system you are innocent until proven guilty.

The charges relate to non-consensual behaviour within consensual sexual encounters. That is, sex without using a condom, which can be considered rape in Sweden.

If he is convicted of that in Sweden I'm assuming he would serve any jail time there. He seems to think he's going to be extradited to America by the Swedes which seems a bit daft to me.

Dayum

I hope a hair on his head isn't harmed.

The world deserve to know the truth about their governments.

Markcheese

Bray Header wrote: »

I read in the Guardian last week that the UK have spent over 14 million of her majesty's quids on monitoring him

Yeah , I was kind of wondering why they bothered with the expense, I mean there must be stacks of suspects/absconders way more dangerous than him that the uk wouldn't dream of spending 14 million on...

Dayum

Assaunge and Snowden deserve to be celebrated on the cover of every newspaper, magazine. They deserve medals and distinction. Instead they're running for their lives and we, as a society, accept it as normal. It's an indictment of our world.

Fascist.

Potatoeman

Dayum wrote: »

Assaunge and Snowden deserve to be celebrated on the cover of every newspaper, magazine. They deserve medals and distinction. Instead they're running for their lives and we, as a society, accept it as normal. It's an indictment of our world.

Fascist.

Assaunge released sensitive documents but is a journalist and owes America nothing. Snowden was working for the government so its a trickier situation. He would have agreed to nondisclosuer agreements so is liable for treason. He probably should get jail time.

Dayum

Potatoeman wrote: »

Assaunge released sensitive documents but is a journalist and owes America nothing. Snowden was working for the government so its a trickier situation. He would have agreed to nondisclosuer agreements so is liable for treason. He probably should get jail time.

Working for government and having to sign non-disclosure agreements?!

Something seems off.....

When you have a government that needs to keep secrets from the very people it claims to represent then it's quite obvious that that government is no longer a legitimate government and must be overthrown.

Reindeer

Ranchu wrote: »

If he is convicted of that in Sweden I'm assuming he would serve any jail time there. He seems to think he's going to be extradited to America by the Swedes which seems a bit daft to me.

He may not even make it to Sweden. If the UK decides to pursue charges against Assange for evading arrest, assange may find himself sent straight to the US with assurances by the US he will face charges in Sweden after they are 'done' with him...20 years later.

Fighting Irish

He probably has loads of juicy info he can use to help this whole process, maybe that's why he stayed there for 2 years(putting a plan in place)

Amirani

Potatoeman wrote: »

Assaunge released sensitive documents but is a journalist and owes America nothing. Snowden was working for the government so its a trickier situation. He would have agreed to nondisclosuer agreements so is liable for treason. He probably should get jail time.

You could easily argue that the obligation to uphold the US constitution supersedes any non-disclosure agreement that Snowden signed. The bulk collection of data belonging to US citizens by the NSA was infringing their constitutional right to privacy.

oppenheimer1

Dayum wrote: »

Working for government and having to sign non-disclosure agreements?!

Something seems off.....

When you have a government that needs to keep secrets from the very people it claims to represent then it's quite obvious that that government is no longer a legitimate government and must be overthrown.

Every civil servant in Ireland works under the official secrets act. It would be impossible to conduct the business of government of everything was public, particularly in relation to security.

Xennon

Every civil servant in Ireland works under the official secrets act. It would be impossible to conduct the business of government of everything was public, particularly in relation to security.

Might be a better country if everything was out in the open for public scrutiny no?

Potatoeman

Diego Simeone wrote: »

You could easily argue that the obligation to uphold the US constitution supersedes any non-disclosure agreement that Snowden signed. The bulk collection of data belonging to US citizens by the NSA was infringing their constitutional right to privacy.

Releasing government secrets even though it exposes their shady actions will always get a response. Snowden was always going to be in hot water if he was found out. It was a good thing for the rest of the world but he put himself in a very bad position.

end of the road

Lapin wrote: »

Threatening to extradite someone for sex offence charges ?

Strange carry on all right.

dubious charges in fairness, if there was no chance of him ending up in a cangaroo court in murika he'd probably have gone long ago, TBH i'd say the only way he's coming out is in a box but you never know i suppose

B.A._Baracus

Don't know why anyone would be a whistleblower.
Take Assaunge and Snowden... But Snowdon is probably the better example because the information he revealed had it's 15 minutes everywhere, then it was over. Sure no-one gave a toss about him during those 15 minutes let alone now.

All it did was sell newspapers and make money for media outlets. Same as the information by Assaunge. It's didnt change anything... people read the stories then went back to eating their corn flakes.

But yet you, the whistleblower, will face charges from Governments and in the case on Snowdon... his own. All for what? Reading material at the breakfast table for some git?

end of the road

EyeSight wrote: »

Not really. I think people give orgs like the CIA too much credit, probably from movies. History has shown that their plans f**k up a lot or leaks(ironically enough) always get out.



I believe you read that, but i can never believe figures like these. Lets say they have 2 cops monitoring at all times, in 8 hour shifts. That's 6 cops who would be on a salary of over 1 million pounds per year. Maybe they're including the price of the cop cars, uniforms, training them etc.

doubt it, the figures are made up i'd say, a while back it was 6 million

end of the road

Jester252 wrote: »

About time he faces the music and stops hiding from his sexual assault charges.

not at all, its all about getting him to the cangaroo court in murika where he will be found guilty on made up charges, unless he can get a deal he's best off living his days out where he is

end of the road

ThomasFlynn wrote: »

You don't think he'll be facing bigger charges in the US? I heard some of the Fox News pundits suggest him and Snowden should face the death penalty if they are ever charged in the US. Could the US execute a non US citizen?

probably, its america, they do what they like and make it up as they go along, they love their death penalty the US government, cheering afterwords also

Reindeer

B.A._Baracus wrote: »

Don't know why anyone would be a whistleblower.
Take Assaunge and Snowden... But Snowdon is probably the better example because the information he revealed had it's 15 minutes everywhere, then it was over. Sure no-one gave a toss about him during those 15 minutes let alone now.
...

Only if you haven't been paying attention to the US news. Hes been in it again and again. Fox news has really never let him go off air.

mikeyjames9

B.A._Baracus wrote: »

Don't know why anyone would be a whistleblower.
Take Assaunge and Snowden... But Snowdon is probably the better example because the information he revealed had it's 15 minutes everywhere, then it was over. Sure no-one gave a toss about him during those 15 minutes let alone now.

All it did was sell newspapers and make money for media outlets. Same as the information by Assaunge. It's didnt change anything... people read the stories then went back to eating their corn flakes.

But yet you, the whistleblower, will face charges from Governments and in the case on Snowdon... his own. All for what? Reading material at the breakfast table for some git?

assange still makes regular leaks in the embassy toilet

Putin

Lapin wrote: »

Threatening to extradite someone for sex offence charges ?

Strange carry on all right.

Strange that they invented the charges? No not at all, such antics are commonplace when you don't tow the line.

Agent Smith

he should dye his hair red.

Nobody would expect a Ginger Leak!

Autonomous Cowherd

It's a bloody disgrace what people like Assange and Snowden have had to go through. They are the present time historians, telling the story as it happens, rather than waiting for the Victors to present their skewed version of the ''truth''. Without people like them we would have little clue about the shenanigans the so-called democratic governments of the world get up to. But because of the hounding they have received i reckon there will be alot fewer of such people in the future. so we will go back to government sponsored propaganda ''news'' versus the whacky conspiracytards version of things which can always be easily laughed off. What a world.

shruikan2553

Do we need to send a member of the Iona institute there to tell everyone they're against him coming out? I can hear them typing up a complaint to BAI already. :pac:

smash

I'm disappointed this isn't a thread about Tom Cruise.

mikeyjames9

Autonomous Cowherd wrote: »

It's a bloody disgrace what people like Assange and Snowden have had to go through. They are the present time historians, telling the story as it happens, rather than waiting for the Victors to present their skewed version of the ''truth''. Without people like them we would have little clue about the shenanigans the so-called democratic governments of the world get up to. But because of the hounding they have received i reckon there will be alot fewer of such people in the future. so we will go back to government sponsored propaganda ''news'' versus the whacky conspiracytards version of things which can always be easily laughed off. What a world.

Tying Assange up with fake charges is peanuts

Nobody at the top cares

Sure weren't we complicit in this stuff providing stopovers at shannon