The United States has provided assurances sought by London’s High Court that could finally pave the way for Britain to extradite WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.

Last month, the Supreme Court ruled that, without certain US guarantees, Assange, 52, would be allowed to appeal again against his extradition to face 18 charges, all of violating the Espionage Act, relating to the publication of confidential US military files by WikiLeaks;

The assurances submitted by the deadline that ended on Tuesdaywere about ensuring that the First Amendment right to free speech could be relied on at trial in the US and that there was no prospect of new charges that could lead to the imposition of the death penalty.

The document, seen by Reuters, said Assange could rely on First Amendment protections and said “the death penalty will not be sought or imposed.”

“These assurances are binding on all those involved or who will be involved in investigating and prosecuting the Assange case,” the assurances state.

There will now be a new hearing in London on May 20, but his lawyers have branded US assurances in other cases “not worth the paper they’re written on”echoing similar criticism from human rights group Amnesty International.

Last week, US President Joe Biden said he was considering a request from Australia to drop the prosecution, which Assange’s US lawyer called “encouraging”.

It was unclear what influence, if any, Biden might have in a criminal case, but the Wall Street Journal also reported that discussions are underway about a possible plea deal.

Assange has fought legal battles for more than 13 years in English courts since he was first arrested in November 2010.

To his many supporters, he is an anti-establishment hero prosecuted for exposing US wrongdoing and details of alleged war crimes in secret, classified files.

US authorities say he is not being prosecuted for publishing the leaked materials, but for the criminal act of conspiring with former US military intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning to illegally obtain them.

“The Biden administration must abandon this dangerous prosecution before it’s too late,” said Stella Assange.
Assange’s wife Stella, whom he married while in prison in London, said the bails did not satisfy their concerns.

“The United States has issued a non-assurance with respect to the First Amendment and a formal assurance with respect to the death penalty,” she said in a statement.