The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper The Spokesman-Review
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883
Current Temperature
43°F
Current Conditions
Clear sky
View complete weather report
Subscribe now

Assange drops appeal of 50-week sentence for jumping bail

In this photo dated Wednesday May 1, 2019, buildings are reflected in the window as WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is taken from court, where he appeared on charges of jumping British bail seven years ago, in London. 47-year old Assange is expected to appear via a video link at court Friday June 14, 2019, as he continues his fight against extradition to the United States, where he faces prosecution under the Espionage Act. (Matt Dunham / AP)
Associated Press

LONDON – WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has dropped an appeal of his 50-week prison term for jumping bail in Britain.

Court officials said Thursday that a hearing on the appeal set for next week had been cancelled.

Assange is jailed in London’s Belmarsh Prison at the same time as he fights extradition to the United States on serious espionage charges.

He jumped bail in 2012 when he sought refuge in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London rather than turn himself in to British authorities for extradition to Sweden to answer questions about sexual misconduct allegations.

He denied the sexual misconduct allegations and says he sought asylum for protection from possible extradition to the U.S. on charges related to his WikiLeaks work.

Assange lost his protected asylum status in April and was arrested by British police.