http://www.theaustralian.com.au/in-depth/wikileaks/us-espionage-charge-may-be-on-the-way-for-assange/story-fn775xjq-1225969807667
No substance to Julian Assange rape allegations: lawyer Peter Wilson, Europe correspondent From: The Australian December 13, 2010 12:00AM JULIAN Assange's Swedish lawyer has expressed confidence that he can blow away the sexual misconduct allegations against the Australian. Assange's lawyer said he would like to appear at an extradition hearing in London this week to stop the case even reaching Sweden. Bjorn Hurtig, who is representing the WikiLeaks founder in Sweden, says police documents prove that the two women who made the allegations were driven by their own "hidden agendas". But instead of being part of some sinister international conspiracy to silence Mr Assange, as many of his supporters have claimed, the women were actually motivated by jealousy and disappointment after brief sexual affairs with him, the lawyer said. "I can prove that at least one of them had very big expectations for something to happen with Julian," he told Britain's Mail on Sunday. Mr Hurtig said he wanted to fly to London for Mr Assange's extradition hearing on Wednesday morning, Australian eastern time. "If I am able to reveal what I know everyone will realise this is all a charade," he said. "If I could tell the British courts I suspect it would make extradition a moot point. "But at the moment I'm bound by the rules of the Swedish legal system, which says the information can only be used as evidence in this country. "For me to do otherwise would lead to me being disbarred." One of Mr Assange's London lawyers, Jennifer Robinson, warned that the US government may be secretly preparing to charge the WikiLeaks founder with espionage. Ms Robinson said she had been told by US lawyers that an indictment under the 1917 Espionage Act may be "under way or may have already taken place". But because such an indictment would be sealed, she said she had no further information, but she thought that the US was considering charging her client with "provisions such as computer crimes". WikiLeaks has infuriated Washington by publishing thousands of secret diplomatic cables. US Attorney-General Eric Holder said last week he was personally involved in the US investigation into the website, and that they were looking beyond the Espionage Act. Ms Robinson said: "I have yet to see any sensible explanation of what exact provision they will rely upon. It is our position that he is entitled to the First Amendment." Ms Robinson said Mr Assange had been moved to Wandsworth prison's segregation unit "for his own safety". She said he got no recreation but was in "very good spirits". Authorities are planning to give Mr Assange limited internet access before attempts to secure bail for him from Westminster magistrates tomorrow. The Australian was reportedly frustrated at last week's cyber-attacks carried out in his name by a group of hackers called Anonymous against targets such as MasterCard and Visa. "He told me he is absolutely not involved and this is a deliberate attempt to conflate WikiLeaks, which is a publishing organisation, with hacking organisations, which are not," Ms Robinson said. Additional reporting: The TImes Related Coverage a.. Assange may soon face spying charges in US The Australian, 1 hour ago b.. Assange's accusers 'jealous liars' Courier Mail, 9 hours ago c.. WikiLeaks spy charge 'not on' Herald Sun, 1 day ago d.. Assange moved to isolation in UK jail The Australian, 1 day ago e.. Julian, wild child of free speech The Australian, 2 days ago End of sidebar. Return to start of sidebar. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Post message: [email protected] Subscribe : [email protected] Unsubscribe : [email protected] List owner : [email protected] Homepage : http://proletar.8m.com/Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/proletar/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/proletar/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
