Julian Assange

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Australian whistleblower, with a background in physics, mathematics and computer programming, best known for his work with WikiLeaks, an investigative journalism Internet-based organization whose mission it is to make public otherwise secret information. Assange is spokesperson and editor-in-chief of the organization. His name became nearly a household word when on 28 November 2010 he leaked over 250,000 classified diplomatic cables of the US government and therefore caused an uproar in government circles. Prior to that he had published many classified documents and a video from the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars. In August 2010, the Swedish government posted a warrant for his arrest on rape and molestation charges. Although the rape charge was revoked a few days later on lack of evidence, the charge of molestation remained. The rape charges were resurrected and the search for Assange was on. He was located in London, and, on 7 December 2010 at 9:30 AM (according to the British press) he was arrested in London. The warrant cited "one count of unlawful coercion, two counts of sexual molestation and one count of rape, all alleged to have been committed in August 2010." Assange denies the charges and he and his many supporters feel that they are fabricated to prevent him and his colleagues from continuing to publish otherwise classified material. Assange is fighting to prevent being extradited to Sweden. In June 2012 the High Court finally denied his appeal. On 19 June 2012 Assange walked into the embassy of Ecuador in London to ask for political asylum. He spent nearly seven-years in asylum there. Assange was granted Ecuadorian citizenship on 12 December 2017 and on 13 April 2019 this was suspended. On 11 April 2019, Assange's asylum was withdrawn following a series of disputes with the Ecuadorian authorities. The police were invited into the embassy the same day, and he was arrested. After Assange's arrest, news media reported that Swedish authorities were considering reopening their investigation. Link to Wikipedia biography