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

Lapin · 18-08-2014 06:35AM #1

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 · 18-08-2014 06:43AM

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

Tangatagamadda Chaddabinga Bonga Bungo · 18-08-2014 06:45AM

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

Lapin · 18-08-2014 06:49AM

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 · 18-08-2014 06:50AM

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 · 18-08-2014 06:51AM

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

iDave · 18-08-2014 06:55AM

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

mikeym · 18-08-2014 07:11AM

Why dont he come to Ireland for asylum.

A few pints of the black stuff will make him better

Banjo String · 18-08-2014 07:25AM

Here's another Julian thinking of coming out.

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

EyeSight · 18-08-2014 07:45AM

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 · 18-08-2014 08:00AM

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 · 18-08-2014 08:06AM

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

Will Ellen be there to support him

stunmer · 18-08-2014 08:35AM

What is it about the name Julian and coming out?

sbsquarepants · 18-08-2014 08:36AM

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

Gongoozler · 18-08-2014 09:00AM

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 · 18-08-2014 09:01AM

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 · 18-08-2014 09:45AM

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 · 18-08-2014 11:19AM

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

Amirani · 18-08-2014 11:33AM

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 · 18-08-2014 11:36AM

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 · 18-08-2014 11:38AM

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 · 18-08-2014 11:38AM

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 · 18-08-2014 11:45AM

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 · 18-08-2014 11:49AM

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 · 18-08-2014 11:56AM

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 · 18-08-2014 12:09PM

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

Ranchu · 18-08-2014 12:39PM

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 · 18-08-2014 12:46PM

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

The world deserve to know the truth about their governments.

Markcheese · 18-08-2014 12:48PM

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 · 18-08-2014 12:49PM

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 · 18-08-2014 01:00PM

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.

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

Comments