It should be a no-brainer that fuggin with the governments of the world’s super-powers comes with serious consequences and repercussions. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is finding that out the hard way.
He pushed the boundaries a little too far, and now he’s got all kinds of skeletons tumbling out of the closet. Not to mention his legal issues.
Julian Assange was arrested today by British police in connection with a Swedish sex crimes investigation — one of many legal, financial and security challenges faced by the WikiLeaks founder.
Scotland Yard said the 39-year-old Australian voluntarily turned up at a London police station at 9:30 a.m. and was arrested on a European Arrest Warrant. Assange is expected to appear at the City of Westminster Magistrates’ Court — located in the heart of the capital — later today, where he will likely have to post bail of between $160,000 and $320,000. He will also need up to six people to act as guarantors or risk being held, The Guardian newspaper reports. A full hearing of his extradition case would then be held within 28 days.
Assange’s legal woes relate to sex-crime allegations filed against him by two women he met in Sweden this August. The WikiLeaks founder has admitted having consensual sex with the women, and according to a recent AOL New story, the charges relate to disagreements over condom use. According to The Guardian, Assange believes that “personal issues” motivated the original allegations against him and that Sweden had subsequently behaved as a “cipher” for the U.S.
Over condom use? Okay, but the head of WikiLeaks should have no problem making bail, right?
The freedom of information campaigner may face a struggle to raise bail because his sources of funding have been choked off in recent weeks. Swiss authorities on Monday froze his bank account — reported to contain about $41,000 — after claiming that he had provided false personal information. MasterCard is also blocking transfers to WikiLeaks, according to the CNet News website, saying the organization was involved in “illegal activity.” And online credit firm PayPal has also refused to pass donations on to WikiLeaks.
Wow. You can’t tell us these governments aren’t like the Mafia.
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