Are Assange's fears justified?

[jeff47]

16. Did you miss the part where those aren't illegal?

Fun fact: The executive branch can do almost anything to foreigners in a war. Like create assassination lists. Don't like it? Get Congress to rescind the massively over-broad AUMF passed after 9/11.

Manning abuse? About the only one that's actually legally abuse was the punitive suicide watch. The people that did it had their careers ended and Manning has wonderful grounds to sue when he's not busy.....but it also doesn't mean he gets away with leaking.

Using the Espionage Act to prosecute whistleblowers? Leaking classified is illegal. Even when you claim you have good intentions for doing so. There are multiple independent channels to expose wrongdoing without leaking to the press.

So, let's pretend Assange is arrested by the DOJ. His lawyer files a motion that points out that he is not charged with a crime that can be prosecuted. Judge orders his release and he gets a nice payday in his subsequent lawsuit against the government.

Oh, but all this crap still assumes the US is waiting until Assange goes to Sweden to extradite him. Which again is fucking stupid. I have found no cases where the UK denied extradition to the US in the last 40 years. The only "wrinkle" in extradition was the requirement that the US not seek the death penalty. Once that was waved, the suspect was extradited.

So, what's your argument that extradition would work better from Sweden? We've got a fantastic track record from the UK. Seems really, really, really dumb to wait.