WikiLeaks Founder Julian Assange Arrested in London on a Swedish Rape Warrant – Will Fight Extradition to Sweden
Contact the Joe Griffith Law Firm immediately to discuss your legal rights.
On December 7, 2010, Assange was arrested at a London police station at 9:30 a.m. (4:30 a.m. ET) and will appear at the City of Westminster Magistrate’s Court later in the day.
Swedish authorities had issued the warrant for Assange so they can talk to him about sex-crime allegations, including an alleged rape, unrelated to WikiLeaks’ recent disclosure of secret U.S. documents.
Assange’s British lawyer, Mark Stephens, has apparently said his client would fight extradition to Sweden.
Assange will respond to the arrest warrant, and the British court will then have roughly 21 days to decide whether to extradite him.
Yesterday, in Washington, D.C., U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said he has authorized “significant” actions related to a criminal investigation of WikiLeaks.
“National security of the United States has been put at risk,” Holder said. “The lives of people who work for the American people have been put at risk. The American people themselves have been put at risk by these actions that I believe are arrogant, misguided and ultimately not helpful in any way. We are doing everything that we can.”
Holder did not answer questions about whether the U.S. government could shut down WikiLeaks, saying he does not want to talk about capabilities and techniques at the government’s disposal. Holder did not say whether the “significant” actions involved search warrants, requests under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which authorizes wiretaps or other means.
Interpol had previously issued an international wanted-persons alert for Assange to its 188 member countries. The Red Notice is not an arrest warrant, but an advisory and request for countries to locate a person with a view toward their arrest and extradition.
In November, a Swedish court ordered Assange formally arrested in his absence, which requires Swedish authorities anywhere in the world to detain Assange if they come across him. Sweden’s director of prosecutions, Marianne Ny, had requested the arrest-in-absence.
“The background is that he has to be heard in this investigation and we haven’t been able to get a hold of him to question him,” Ny said at the time.
Assange, 39, faces five counts that appear related to two incidents, according to the request Ny filed with the court.
He faces one count of rape and one count of sexual molestation related to an instance around August 17 in Enkoping, just outside Stockholm. He then faces two counts of sexual molestation between August 13 and 18 in Stockholm, and one count of illegal use of force between August 13 and 14, also in the capital.
Assange could be sentenced to at least two years in prison if convicted according to the document.
#####
Contact the Joe Griffith Law Firm immediately to discuss your legal rights.
We represent those accused of criminal misdemeanors and/or felonies in a variety of state and federal proceedings including, but not limited to, initial appearances, preliminary hearings, bond hearings, trials, sentencing hearings, parole hearings, probation hearings, and appeals. We represent those designated “witnesses,” “subjects” or “targets” of grand jury criminal investigations, and have the experience to know when to assert 5th Amendment rights, make effective “proffer” statements, or demand immunity from government prosecutors. We are extremely effective in conducting pre-indictment investigations to gather and analyze evidence in order to make factual and legal presentations to prosecutors in an effort to persuade them to issue a declination whereby they agree to not indict a person or company under criminal investigation. We have been successful in having investigations declined pre-indictment. In the event of an indictment or other criminal charge, our attorneys stand ready to fight for our client and protect his or her legal rights to the fullest extent of the law.
If you or your loved one has received a subject letter or target letter naming you as a subject or target of an alleged espionage crime, have been served with a search warrant or grand jury subpoena, or have been charged in a criminal complaint or an indictment with the crime of espionage or sedition, contact the Joe Griffith Law Firm immediately to discuss your legal rights.
Joseph P. Griffith, Jr.
SC Criminal Defense Attorney
SC Espionage Defense Lawyer
SC Fraud Law Firm
SC Criminal Attorney
Joe Griffith Law Firm, LLC
7 State Street
Charleston, South Carolina 29401
(843) 225-5563
South Carolina Attorney Joe Griffith is a former SC federal prosecutor who handles Medicare Fraud cases, Medicaid Fraud Cases, Pharmacy Fraud cases, Hospital Fraud cases, Qui Tam Cases, False Claims Act cases, Whistleblower Fraud cases, and Defense Contractor Fraud cases in South Carolina and the United States. As a former federal prosecutor who has litigated nearly 30 federal court trials, top-rated attorney Joseph P. Griffith, Jr. focuses the great majority of his practice on federal White Collar Criminal defense. He has handled a wide range of White Collar Criminal cases, with particular emphasis on antitrust crimes, bank fraud, bankruptcy fraud, child pornography, computer crimes, corporate fraud, environmental crimes, espionage crimes, false claims act/government fraud, health care fraud, internet/cyber crimes, mail/wire fraud, obscenity charges, RICO, securities/stock fraud and tax fraud crimes. Joseph P. Griffith, Jr. has received Martindale-Hubbell’s highest AV rating, has received AVVO’s highest 10/10 rating, is a member of the Bar Register of Pre-eminent Lawyers, has been chosen a South Carolina Super Lawyer, and has been chosen one of the Best Lawyers in America. He has the experience to adroitly guide you or your company through the difficult process of a White Collar criminal investigation, and, if necessary, forcefully litigate your defense in the event of a prosecution.
© 2010 Joseph P. Griffith, Jr.
South Carolina Criminal Lawyer 