Julian Assange Goes Free on Bail

A British judge has ruled that the WikiLeaks founder can be released from jail while he fights extradition to Sweden.

Merry Christmas, Julian Assange. London High Court Judge Duncan Ouseley’s ruling means that the controversial head of WikiLeaks won’t spend the holidays behind bars, although he will have to wear a security tag and check in daily with police. Swedish prosecutors are attempting to extradite him on sex crimes charges and had appealed his bail on the grounds that he was a flight risk. Judge Ouseley found that the stipulations of his bail, which include posting $376,000 and surrendering his passport, should be enough to keep him in the U.K. while he fights extradition. Assange has been cooperative with police so far, and turned himself in on Dec. 7 after Swedish authorities issued a warrant for his arrest.