According to documents published by New York Times correspondent Megan Specia, US officials promise that Julian Assange will not be executed if he is extradited to the US.
However, critics point out that the US has very little credibility on this issue and that the “guarantees” given are not to be trusted.
“A sentence of death will neither be sought nor imposed on Assange. The United States is able to provide such assurance as Assange is not charged with a death-penalty eligible offense, and the United States assures that he will not be tried for a death-eligible offense”, reads the affidavit signed by the U.S. Embassy in London.
It goes on to say that “Assange will not be prejudiced by reason of his nationality with respect to which defenses he may seek to raise at trial and at sentencing”.
“If extradited, Assange will have the ability to raise and seek to rely upon at trial the rights and protections given under the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States”, it says, claiming the guarantees are binding on all parties.
US has filed assurances in Assange extradition case, which were requested by a British court before it makes a final decision on his ability to appeal. Next step is a hearing on May 20. More on what those assurances are all about in our earlier story here: https://t.co/8ehvD0iHus pic.twitter.com/420CMZP0Wp
— Megan Specia (@meganspecia) April 16, 2024
“No guarantees at all”
But on message boards and social media, confidence in the US legal system is very low, with many worried that Assange could still be executed if extradited to the US.
“It’s not worth the paper it’s written on – my understanding is the State Department makes the assurances, and the Depart of Justice feels they are not bound by them, since their department didn’t make them“, writes Stephen Gentle on X, suggesting that the purpose of the promises is likely to reassure people upset about Assange’s treatment.
“Those are not assurances at all. They are crafted words to give the appearance of assurances”, commented Jeffrey Lovell, echoed by user Realbugsycat: “Seriously, this whole extradition process is a farce. The US is just using their power to intimidate and silence anyone who challenges their authority. Free Assange and let him face justice in a fair and transparent legal system!“
Washington’s pledges come after the High Court in London ruled last month that if the US could not provide these guarantees, Assange could also appeal his extradition to the US to stand trial for publishing classified military documents.
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