TADEAS:

Cybersecurity speakers cancelled for 'idea' of panel with Edward Snowden | Australian intelligence agencies | The Guardian
https://amp.theguardian.com/...ybersecurity-speakers-cancelled-for-idea-of-panel-with-edward-snowden

Sanders Pledges Not to Use Espionage Act on Whistleblowers as President
https://theintercept.com/2019/10/22/bernie-sanders-espionage-act-whistleblowers/

»Verfolgung von Julian Assange schafft einen gefährlichen Präzedenzfall« - Fraktion DIE LINKE. im Bundestag
https://www.linksfraktion.de/...lgung-von-julian-assange-schafft-einen-gefaehrlichen-praezedenzfall/

WikiLeaks - Press Release Regarding Julian Assange's Case Management Hearing
https://wikileaks.org/Julian-Assange-Case-Hearing.html

hustotka

Assange in Court - Craig Murray
https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2019/10/assange-in-court/

there were five representatives of the US government present (initially three, and two more arrived in the course of the hearing), seated at desks behind the lawyers in court. The prosecution lawyers immediately went into huddle with the US representatives, then went outside the courtroom with them, to decide how to respond on the dates.

After the recess the defence team stated they could not, in their professional opinion, adequately prepare if the hearing date were kept to February, but within Baraitser’s instruction to do so they nevertheless outlined a proposed timetable on delivery of evidence. In responding to this, Lewis’ junior counsel scurried to the back of the court to consult the Americans again while Lewis actually told the judge he was “taking instructions from those behind”. It is important to note that as he said this, it was not the UK Attorney-General’s office who were being consulted but the US Embassy. Lewis received his American instructions and agreed that the defence might have two months to prepare their evidence (they had said they needed an absolute minimum of three) but the February hearing date may not be moved. Baraitser gave a ruling agreeing everything Lewis had said.

At this stage it was unclear why we were sitting through this farce. The US government was dictating its instructions to Lewis, who was relaying those instructions to Baraitser, who was ruling them as her legal decision. The charade might as well have been cut and the US government simply sat on the bench to control the whole process. Nobody could sit there and believe they were in any part of a genuine legal process or that Baraitser was giving a moment’s consideration to the arguments of the defence. Her facial expressions on the few occasions she looked at the defence ranged from contempt through boredom to sarcasm. When she looked at Lewis she was attentive, open and warm.

The extradition is plainly being rushed through in accordance with a Washington dictated timetable. Apart from a desire to pre-empt the Spanish court providing evidence on CIA activity in sabotaging the defence, what makes the February date so important to the USA? I would welcome any thoughts.

Assange. Le crash de la démocratie, y a-t-il un média dans l'avion ? | Le Club de Mediapart
https://blogs.mediapart.fr/...g/211019/assange-le-crash-de-la-democratie-y-t-il-un-media-dans-lavion

Srećko Horvat
@HorvatSrecko
Essentially, the media painted a picture of Assange as “frail" and "confused”. His comments in court today, however, were very lucid. Forget #Brexit, UK can save its soul only if it saves #Assange from the United States of Trump.

Coverage of Assange's court appearance shows what a sorry state the media is in | The Canary
https://www.thecanary.co/...e-of-assanges-court-appearance-shows-what-a-sorry-state-the-media-is-in/

I don’t understand how this is equitable. This superpower had 10 years to prepare for this case and I can’t access my writings. It’s very difficult where I am to do anything but these people have unlimited resources.

They are saying journalists and whistleblowers are enemies of the people. They have unfair advantages dealing with documents. They [know] the interior of my life with my psychologist. They steal my children’s DNA. This is not equitable what is happening here.

...

Former home secretary Sajid Javid signed an order in June allowing Assange to be extradited to the US over the allegations relating to his journalistic work. Government prosecutor James Lewis QC was also firmly against the judge giving Assange any extra time to prepare his case.

Clearly, the full weight of the British and US state apparatus is bearing down on the WikiLeaks founder in this extradition case. That was made explicitly clear in a statement by Nils Melzer, the UN special rapporteur on torture, in May. He urged the UK not to extradite Assange to the US, saying:

In 20 years of work with victims of war, violence and political persecution I have never seen a group of democratic States ganging up to deliberately isolate, demonise and abuse a single individual for such a long time and with so little regard for human dignity and the rule of law

Assange’s own comments in court show he’s well aware of the titan he faces. He’s not the mess the media is making out. And as a letter he sent from prison shows, he’s also aware this fight isn’t just about him:

It’s not just me. It’s much wider. It’s all of us. It’s all journalists, and all publishers who do their job who are in danger.

Julian Assange Westminster Court appearance 21st October 2019
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbrC-O-7t30

John Pilger
@johnpilger
I was in court today to watch magistrate Vanessa Baraitser's studied contempt for law and justice, as she denied Julian #Assange time to prepare his defence against America's oafish, cowboy case to extradite him. An enfeebled Julian struggled to expose her. Stand with him please.

Julian Assange extradition judge refuses request for delay | Julian Assange | The Guardian
https://amp.theguardian.com/.../julian-assange-extradition-judge-refuses-request-for-delay-wikileaks

Dear @guardian, if you report the #EspionageAct charges against Julian #Assange writing “ he faces 17 charges of spying”, you automatically adhere to US authorities’ attempts to frame journalism as espionage. This is indeed the crux of the matter https://t.co/UNlS7J3D1J

Ken Livingstone, ex Major of London speaks in front of the Magistrate Court this morning. @AssangeMrs https://t.co/BPtOw4UjVx

‘I can’t think properly’: Assange fights back tears and struggles to say own name as he appears in court over US extradition | The Independent
https://www.independent.co.uk/...ring-extradition-trump-london-westminster-magistrates-a9164781.html

Mr Assange’s barrister, Mark Summers, described the extradition bid as “a political attempt” by Donald Trump’s administration to “signal to journalists the consequences of publishing information”.

“It is legally unprecedented,” he told the court.

Mr Summers said there was a “direct link” between Mr Trump’s election and the “reinvigoration” of the investigation, which had concluded under Barack Obama’s presidency without any charges against Mr Assange.

Julian Assange loses attempt to delay extradition hearing
https://amp.ft.com/content/71ad23f8-f3f9-11e9-b018-3ef8794b17c6

Julian Assange’s extradition hearing will go ahead in February after a judge rejected pleas on Monday to allow more time to investigate allegations that the US state “intruded” into conversations between the WikiLeaks founder and his lawyers in the Ecuadoran embassy.

Mark Summers QC, acting for Mr Assange, told Westminster magistrates’ court that the February hearing should be pushed back to allow the legal team more time to investigate claims that the US had been “actively engaged in intruding” into conversations between Mr Assange and lawyers while he was holed up in the Ecuadorean embassy in London from 2012 to 2019.

Mr Summers said there other alleged intrusions, which included “hooded men breaking into offices”. He did not give further details.

...

Mr Summers told the court there was a criminal case in the Spanish courts involving the purported Spanish contractors used by the US. He also claimed that there “had been plans to kidnap and harm” Mr Assange.

He argued that the current US administration had “reinvigorated” the prosecution of Mr Assange as part of a “concerted and avowed war on whistleblowers” and as a warning to journalists and publishers.

...

Wearing a blue sweater, white shirt and blue jacket with glasses pushed up on his head, a cleanshaven Mr Assange spoke haltingly and slowly as he was asked whether he had understood what had happened in the hearing and replied: “Not really.”

“I can’t research anything, I can’t access any of my writing . . . These people have unlimited resources . . . I am in fear of my life . . . This is not equitable.” he said.

He had appeared at Westminster magistrates’ court on Monday in person after being transported from Belmarsh prison where he is being held ahead of the extradition hearing.

after 4 years I am still fighting in 4 jurisdictions to access the full documentation on Julian #Assange, #Uk,#US,#Australia,#Sweden have tried all sorts of attempt to stop and delay my #FOIA litigation. What do they want to hide?

https://twitter.com/SMaurizi/status/1186354919051317253?s=19

it won't gain me powerful friends in the media environment, but I won't be silent: #UK and #US media bear huge responsibilities for the persecution of Julian #Assange. History wont' be kind to them.

https://twitter.com/SMaurizi/status/1186350949440409604?s=19

Former deputy prime minister of Australia Barnaby Joyce joins former Foreign Minister Bob Carr's calls for the current Australian government to intervene to halt Assange's potential extradition from UK to the US on espionage charges and 175 year sentence

https://t.co/nMQoojNPN

TADEAS:

But Assange mumbled and stuttered for several seconds as he gave his name and date of birth at the start of a preliminary hearing in the case.

When the judge asked him at the end of the hearing if he knew what was happening, he replied “not exactly”, complained about the conditions in jail, and said he was unable to “think properly”.

“I don’t understand how this is equitable,” Assange said. “I can’t research anything, I can’t access any of my writing. It’s very difficult where I am.”