Julian Assange WikiLeaks: Biden considering Australian request to drop charges
Joe Biden has said he is considering a request from Australia to drop the prosecution of Julian Assange – the founder of Wikileaks.
The US wants to extradite Assange from the UK to the US to face charges over leaking US military records.
Assange denies the US charges saying the leaks were an act of journalism.
Australia’s parliament passed a measure calling for Assange to be returned to his native Australia.
Biden was asked about Australia’s request on Wednesday, he said: “We’re considering it.”
The measure was passed in the Aussie parliament in February. PM Anthony Albanese told MPs: “People will have a range of views about Mr Assange’s conduct… But regardless of where people stand, this thing cannot just go on and on and on indefinitely.”
The PM said Biden’s comments were “encouraging” and “increasingly optimistic about an outcome”.
“We want Mr Assange to be able to return home,” he told Sky News Australia.