Sweden has dropped the rape charges against Julian Assange, although he still faces charges in the UK and US.
Sweden’s top prosecutor said Friday she would drop the investigation into a rape claim against Julian Assange after almost seven years — but the controversial WikiLeaks founder isn’t a free man just yet, reports Fox News.
Assange took refuge in Ecuador’s Embassy in London in 2012 to escape extradition to Sweden to answer questions about sex-crime accusations from two women. He has been there ever since, claiming officials could ultimately extradite him to the United States.
Friday’s announcement meant Assange no longer was under any investigation in Sweden. However, British police said Assange was still wanted in the U.K. for jumping bail — so he could still face arrest if he leaves the Ecuadorean Embassy.
“It is a scandal that a suspected rapist can avoid the judicial system and thus avoid a trial in court,” a lawyer for the woman who claimed Assange raped her responded. Elisabeth Massi Fritz said her client was shocked but “she can’t change her view that Assange has exposed her to a rape.”
Sweden dropping the charges against Assange started a Twitter storm as soon as the news was announced. Just a few of those tweets….
— Defend Assange Campaign (@DefendAssange) May 19, 2017
https://twitter.com/BooBooNyc/status/865548780023590913
https://twitter.com/Rugure89/status/865541810638135300
And my favorite, in light of the fact that Sweden is well-known for not prosecuting Muslim refugees, especially for rape, which has turned Sweden into the rape capital of the world….
https://twitter.com/MenschallyIll/status/865499728703660033
