Sweden Drops Rape Investigation Of Julian Assange

Swedish authorities on Tuesday dropped an investigation into allegations of rape and sexual assault made against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. The allegations date back to 2010.

Assange is currently in prison in Britain.

The Swedish Prosecution Authority said in a statement: "Deputy Director of Public Prosecution Eva-Marie Persson has today decided to discontinue the investigation regarding Julian Assange. "The reason for this decision is that the evidence has weakened considerably due to the long period of time that has elapsed since the events in question."

URGENT: Sweden Drops Investigation of Julian Assange.

— WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) November 19, 2019

The decision follows a ruling in June by a Swedish court that Assange — who denies the accusation — should not be detained.

The 48-year-old Australian has avoided extradition to Sweden for seven years after seeking refuge at the Ecuadorian embassy in London in 2012.  He was evicted in April and is currently serving a 50-week sentence in Belmarsh prison in London for jumping bail in 2012.

He is also fighting extradition to the US, which accuses him of publishing secret documents.

Kristinn Hrafnsson, WikiLeaks editor-in-chief: “Let us now focus on the threat Mr Assange has been warning about for years: the belligerent prosecution of the United States and the threat it poses to the First Amendment.⁰"

— WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) November 19, 2019