British Court Rejects U.S. Request To Extradite WikiLeaks Founder Julian Assange

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange faces 18 counts related to illegally obtaining, receiving and disclosing classified information in 2010. He is accused of conspiring to hack U.S. government computer networks, and obtain and publish classified documents related to national security.

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Updated at 10 a.m. ET

A British court has denied a request from U.S. officials to extradite WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange on charges of illegally obtaining and sharing classified material related to national security. The judge cited the risk of suicide if Assange is sent to U.S. custody.

“I find that the mental condition of Mr. Assange is such that it would be oppressive to extradite him to the United States of America,” British Magistrate Vanessa Baraitser said in her decision Monday.