This past weekend supporters for Julian Assange marched on central London and Parliament Square in the lead up to Monday’s opening arguments in the WikiLeaks founder and publisher’s extradition hearing at Woolwich Crown Court.
Among those leading the march were Assange’s father John Shipton, WikiLeaks editor Kristinn Hrafnsonn, former Pink Floyd frontman Roger Waters, former Greek Finance minister Yanis Varoufakis, and fashion designer Vivienne Westwood.
Joe Lauria, editor of Consortium News, caught up with 21WIRE’s Patrick Henningsen on the streets of London for an informal conversation about this week’s extradition proceedings for the latest episode of CNLIVE! Watch:
“All the bullshit is falling to the wayside now, because we’re coming down to the main event,” Henningsen told Lauria, adding:
“People are beginning to see now that this case is held together by band-aids and match sticks…”
Also discussed:
The timing of Brexit and the Harry Dunn case is very interesting, because now the UK is to be seen as ‘independent’ standing on its own feet.
And if the U.S. does not honor extradition treaty with Britain, then why should Britain honor it with U.S. and hand over Assange for political persecution?
Follow 21WIRE’s live updates of Assange’s extradition hearing here.
Day One
Henningsen attended Monday’s opening arguments for the prosecution inside the courtroom. Here’s a recap via Twitter:
UPDATE of #JulianAssange extradition hearing this morning:
– Prosecution US lawyers basically re-running the narratives of the Trial of #ChelseaManning ten yrs ago.
Also…
— Patrick Henningsen (@21WIRE) February 24, 2020
Day Two
Assange’s defense team opened their arguments by debunking and dismantled two of prosecution’s chief allegations regarding the U.S. extradition request, reminding the prosecution that WikiLeaks did not release the unredacted cable first, and flagged-up the role of disgraced Guardian writer Luke Harding as actual culprit publishing password to raw cables which then spread online:
ASSANGE HEARING UPDATE: #JulianAssange defense lawyer Mark Summers just debunked and dismantled two of prosecution’s chief allegations re US extradition request… (con’t)
— Patrick Henningsen (@21WIRE) February 25, 2020
Henningsen’s verdict after another day inside the courtroom:
“Today was a total blow-out! DOJ indictments against Julian Assange are a work of fiction.”
We’ll have more live updates and coverage throughout the week at 21st Century Wire.
WATCH MORE ASSANGE & WIKILEAKS NEWS HERE
