Assange Back in Court for Extradition Hearing

The Wikileaks founder’s defence team is arguing the Swedish-issued warrant against him is invalid and could lead to him facing the death penalty in the U.S.

Julain Assange was in a London courtroom Monday morning to officially begin his battle to avoid extradition to Sweden on allegations that he sexually assaulted two women. His lawyers contend that the European Arrest Warrant Swedish authorities have issued against him is invalid because they have yet to charge him with the sex assaults and they have not unequivocally stated their intention to do so, and that if he is jailed in Sweden, he may eventually be deported to the U.S., possibly even Guantanamo Bay, where he could face the death penalty for his role in the publication of thousands of secret U.S. diplomatic cables. The extradition hearing is expected to last two days.