UK judge sends extradition case of Wikileaks' Assange to interior minister Patel

A supporter of Julian Assange displays a poster, outside the Westminster Magistrates' Court in London, Britain April 20, 2022. REUTERS/Tom Nicholson

LONDON (Reuters) - A British judge on Wednesday sent the case of Julian Assange to interior minister Priti Patel who will decide whether the Wikileaks founder should be extradited to the United States over the release of confidential U.S. documents.

The procedural step, in what has been a long-running and high-profile legal battle, was announced at a hearing in central London following a March decision to deny Australian-born Assange permission to appeal against his extradition.