WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, 47, is facing an 18-count indictment in the United States.
Camera IconWikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, 47, is facing an 18-count indictment in the United States.

US submits extradition request for Assange

Eric TuckerAAP

The United States government has formally submitted an extradition request to the UK for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, a US official says.



The extradition request had been expected ever since US authorities first announced a criminal case against Assange.

The 47-year-old was evicted on April 11 from the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, where he had been holed up since 2012 after Ecuador granted him political asylum.


Assange was initially charged with a single computer crime violation on allegations that he worked with Manning to crack a government password. Some legal experts have said the additional Espionage Act charges might slow or complicate the extradition process to the extent the UK views them as political offences and therefore exempt from extradition.

The US official spoke on condition of anonymity because the official wasn't authorised to speak publicly.
