Report: Assange Sees Legal Defense in Politics

[struggle4progress]

By ROD McGUIRK Associated Press
CANBERRA, Australia February 18, 2013 (AP)

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange regards his bid to become an Australian senator as a defense against potential criminal prosecution in the United States and Britain, a news website reported on Monday.

Assange spoke to The Conversation website at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London where he was granted asylum in June to avoid extradition to Sweden on sex crime allegations.

If he wins a Senate seat at elections on Sept. 24, Assange told the website that the U.S. Department of Justice would drop its espionage investigation rather than risk a diplomatic row.

The British government would follow suit, otherwise "the political costs of the current standoff will be higher still,"Assange told the website ...

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/report-assange-sees-legal-defense-politics-18526280

[Leslie Valley]

1. That's what I'm looking for in a candidate for office

Someone who is all about me, what about my needs. Me me me.

*BLEAH*

[struggle4progress]

2. "But I might be prosecuted for sexual assault if you don't vote for me!"

I remember a Congressional contest, a few years back, where one candidate had a drunk-driving incident during the campaign season: the wags then went about, urging voters to send the fellow to DC, so he wouldn't be driving around their town

[Demeter]

3. I wouldn't bet on that, Julian

There seems to be nothing the US will not stoop to, these days.

I rather suspect the CIA behind the assassination of Olaf Palme, which put Sweden firmly under the American thumb, hence the extradition threat to Assange.