Julian Assange, WikiLeaks Founder, Faces No Criminal Charges In U.S., Sources Say

Reuters | By Mark Hosenball — Posted: 08/22/2012 5:31 pm — Updated: 08/22/2012 10:27 pm

WASHINGTON, Aug 22 (Reuters) - Despite claims by Julian Assange that Washington is plotting to extradite and execute him, U.S. and European government sources say the United States has issued no criminal charges against the WikiLeaks founder and has launched no attempt to extradite him.

Moreover, Obama administration officials remain divided over the wisdom of prosecuting Assange, the sources said, and the likelihood of U.S. criminal charges against him is probably receding rather than growing.

The Obama administration has said Assange's immediate fate is in the hands of Britain, Sweden and Ecuador.

Earlier this year, British authorities obtained a court order authorizing them to extradite Assange to Sweden for questioning in a sexual molestation case.

Assange took refuge in Ecuador's London embassy a few days before his extradition was due to occur and Ecuador last week offered him permanent asylum. British authorities have indicated Assange will be arrested if he leaves the embassy.

(More here.)