Is a U.S. grand jury considering charges against Julian Assange?

That’s what Assange’s lawyer in Britain, Mark Stephens, claimed in an interview with Al Jazeera’s David Frost on Sunday: I think that the Americans are much more interested in terms of the WikiLeaks aspects of this [than the sexual assault charges filed against Assange in Sweden]. And we have heard from the Swedish authorities that ...

That's what Assange's lawyer in Britain, Mark Stephens, claimed in an interview with Al Jazeera's David Frost on Sunday:

That’s what Assange’s lawyer in Britain, Mark Stephens, claimed in an interview with Al Jazeera’s David Frost on Sunday:

I think that the Americans are much more interested in terms of the WikiLeaks aspects of this [than the sexual assault charges filed against Assange in Sweden]. And we have heard from the Swedish authorities that there has been a secretly impaneled grand jury in Alexandria, [Va.] … and they are currently investigating this. And indeed the Swedes, we understand, have said that if he comes to Sweden, they will defer their interest in him to the Americans. That shows some level of collusion.

Assange is appearing in court in London tomorrow for a hearing on the Swedish government’s request to extradite him on sexual assault charges.

(Via Wired‘s Threat Level.)

Charles Homans is a special correspondent for the New Republic and the former features editor of Foreign Policy.

More from Foreign Policy

Newspapers in Tehran feature on their front page news about the China-brokered deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia to restore ties, signed in Beijing the previous day, on March, 11 2023.
Newspapers in Tehran feature on their front page news about the China-brokered deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia to restore ties, signed in Beijing the previous day, on March, 11 2023.

Saudi-Iranian Détente Is a Wake-Up Call for America

The peace plan is a big deal—and it’s no accident that China brokered it.

Austin and Gallant stand at podiums side by side next to each others' national flags.
Austin and Gallant stand at podiums side by side next to each others' national flags.

The U.S.-Israel Relationship No Longer Makes Sense

If Israel and its supporters want the country to continue receiving U.S. largesse, they will need to come up with a new narrative.

Russian President Vladimir Putin lays flowers at the Moscow Kremlin Wall in the Alexander Garden during an event marking Defender of the Fatherland Day in Moscow.
Russian President Vladimir Putin lays flowers at the Moscow Kremlin Wall in the Alexander Garden during an event marking Defender of the Fatherland Day in Moscow.

Putin Is Trapped in the Sunk-Cost Fallacy of War

Moscow is grasping for meaning in a meaningless invasion.

An Iranian man holds a newspaper reporting the China-brokered deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia to restore ties, in Tehran on March 11.
An Iranian man holds a newspaper reporting the China-brokered deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia to restore ties, in Tehran on March 11.

How China’s Saudi-Iran Deal Can Serve U.S. Interests

And why there’s less to Beijing’s diplomatic breakthrough than meets the eye.