'We’re considering it': Biden mulls Australia's request to drop charges against Wikileaks' Assange

US President Joe Biden is contemplating a significant shift in the United States’ decade-long pursuit of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, prompted by a request from Australia to abandon the prosecution against the Australian citizen.

Speaking on Wednesday during a State visit with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Biden acknowledged Australia’s appeal, stating, “We’re considering it.”

Assange’s charges

Assange, 52, faces 17 espionage charges and one count of computer misuse over the publication of classified US documents on his website nearly 15 years ago.

American prosecutors allege his involvement in aiding US Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning in obtaining diplomatic cables and military files, actions deemed to have jeopardised lives.

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Assange’s supporters argue that he acted as a journalist protected by the First Amendment, exposing US military misconduct in Iraq and Afghanistan, reported AP.

Stella Assange, his wife, has expressed concern over his declining health in prison, fearing for his life behind bars.

Australia’s push

Australia has persistently urged the US to reconsider its pursuit of Assange, highlighting what it perceives as an inconsistency in the treatment of Assange compared to Manning. Former US President Barack Obama commuted Manning’s 35-year sentence, leading to her release in 2017.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese welcomed Biden’s acknowledgment of the issue, emphasising that Assange has already faced significant repercussions and urging for a resolution to his prolonged incarceration.

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“I have said that we have raised, on behalf of Mr. Assange, Australia’s national interests that enough is enough and this needs to be brought to a conclusion and we’ve raised it at each level of government in every possible way,” Albanese told Australian Broadcasting Corp.

“Mr. Assange has already paid a significant price and enough is enough. There’s nothing to be gained by Mr. Assange’s continued incarceration in my very strong view and I’ve put that as the view of the Australian government,” he added.

Kristinn Hrafnsson, the editor-in-chief of Wikileaks, responded to Biden’s remarks in a statement.

“By dropping the charges against Julian he will be protecting freedom of expression and the rights of journalists and publishers globally,” she said. “We urge him to end this legal process; to free Julian; and to recognise that journalism is not a crime.”

A British court recently ruled that Assange cannot be extradited to the United States on espionage charges unless assurances are provided by US authorities that he won’t face the death penalty.