Assange one step closer to extradition to United States

FILE PHOTO: Supporters of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange display signs and banners as they protest outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London, Britain, October 28, 2021. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls

LONDON (Reuters) - WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange on Friday moved a step closer to facing criminal charges in the United States for one of the biggest ever leaks of classified information after Washington won an appeal over his extradition in an English court.

U.S. authorities accuse Australian-born Assange, 50, of 18 counts relating to WikiLeaks’ release of vast troves of confidential U.S. military records and diplomatic cables which they said had put lives in danger.