UK judge rejects Assange bid to delay US extradition case

WikiLeaks' founder Julian Assange, who is fighting to avoid extradition to the United States from Britain, failed on Monday in a bid to further delay hearings that resumed after a pause of months caused by the coronavirus lockdown.

The US authorities accuse Australian-born Assange, 49, of conspiring to hack government computers and of violating an espionage law in connection with the release of confidential cables by WikiLeaks in 2010-2011.

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source

Assange, clean-shaven and wearing a suit at Monday's hearing, formally declined to be extradited.

He has been presented with a new, wider superseding indictment issued by US authorities in June, which contains 18 alleged offences of conspiring to hack government computers and espionage.

The judge rejected his lawyers' application for the case to be adjourned until January to allow them more time to consider new US accusations.