Home Secretary has signed an order to extradite to America, where he is wanted on 18 charges of espionage and could be imprisoned for life. If it were his character and behaviour that were up for trial, we’d probably say good riddance. The founder of WikiLeaks is not a person deserving of much sympathy.But the stakes are far higher than that — no less than the future of a free Press and, above all, its ability to undertake investigative journalism that embarrasses or shames the powers that be. Patel’s decision hovers like a stake over the heart of these freedoms, which are essential to any proper democracy. Those who cherish them must hope the British courts force her to think again.Assange is no crusader in shining armour. He is reckless, cavalier with people’s lives, narcissistic, a ‘sexual predator’. Careless of his personal hygiene, he is often his own worst enemy. He lets down his friends and repels his allies.
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