Assange: We're stepping up release of leaked docs

LONDON — WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange vowed Tuesday to step up his site's release of secret documents while he fights extradition to Sweden, as his lawyers argued that sending him to Stockholm could land him in Guantanamo Bay or on U.S. death row.

That claim, regarded by many legal experts as extremely unlikely, is part of an preliminary defense argument released by Assange's attorneys ahead of a court hearing next month.

The Australian hacker is wanted in Sweden to answer sex-crimes allegations. American officials also are trying to build a criminal case against WikiLeaks, which has published a trove of leaked diplomatic cables and secret U.S. intelligence files on Iraq and Afghanistan.

Assange's lawyers are seeking to link the two issues, claiming the Swedish prosecution is politically motivated — an allegation Sweden strongly denies.

Assange's defense argument claims "there is a real risk that, if extradited to Sweden, the U.S. will seek his extradition and/or illegal rendition to the USA, where there will be a real risk of him being detained at Guantanamo Bay or elsewhere."

The document, prepared by Assange's lead lawyer, Geoffrey Robertson, adds that "there is a real risk that he could be made subject to the death penalty" if sent to the United States.

Under European law, suspects cannot be extradited to jurisdictions where they may face the death penalty.

It also is not clear what, if any, charges U.S. authorities could bring against Assange, and unclear how he could be classed as an "unlawful enemy combatant" — which could expose him to detention at Guantanamo Bay.

"Mr. Assange would not be sent to Guantanamo," said John Bellinger, a former legal adviser to the U.S. State Department. "He would be prosecuted in U.S. federal court. He would not be treated as an enemy combatant. Those are ridiculous concerns."

He added that "while Mr. Assange faces serious charges with a potential prison term, U.S. prosecutors certainly would not seek the death penalty."

British extradition specialist Karen Todner rejected the argument that Assange might be at greater risk of being sent to the United States from Sweden.

"I think he's more likely to face an extradition to the U.S. if he's in Britain," she said. Britain has a special fast-track extradition arrangement with the United States.

Assange, 39, was arrested arrest last month on rape and molestation accusations stemming from encounters with two women during a trip to Sweden last summer. He appeared briefly in a London court Tuesday ahead of a full extradition hearing Feb. 7 and 8.

Assange's lawyers say he should not be extradited because he has not been charged and is only wanted for questioning, and they plan to argue in court that the European arrest warrant seeking his detention was improperly issued.

The defense document also claims Assange has been the victim of "a pattern of illegal and or corrupt behavior" by the Swedish prosecuting authorities, including the release of his name to the public, "thus ensuring his vilification throughout the world."

As U.S. officials seek to build a case against WikiLeaks, American prosecutors have demanded details about the Twitter accounts of Assange, Pvt. Bradley Manning — the Army intelligence analyst in custody who is suspected of supplying WikiLeaks with classified information — and several WikiLeaks supporters.

Despite WikiLeaks' protests at the U.S. demand, Assange's lawyers complain that they have not been given access to text messages and tweets by Assange's accusers which the defense claims undermine the two women's case. They say text messages exchanged by the claimants "speak of revenge and of the opportunity to make lots of money."

Swedish Prosecutor Marianne Ny declined to comment on the case Tuesday.