WikiLeaks: Famous Spanish judge to defend Assange against 'American scheme'
Julian Assange hired human rights champion Baltazar Garz贸n to defend his case in court.
In this Feb. 1 photo, Julian Assange, WikiLeaks founder, arrives at the Supreme Court in London.
Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP/File
Madrid
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange hired human rights champion and former Spanish judge Baltazar Garz贸n to fight what he fears is an American scheme to eventually try him for revealing a stash of secret documents.聽
International jurist Mr. Garz贸n, who was recently disbarred in Spain, 鈥渉as expressed serious concerns regarding the lack of safeguards and transparency, and the harassment [Assange] is being subjected to,鈥� says released late yesterday evening on Twitter by WikiLeaks.
鈥淭here is clear political intentionality behind this affair,鈥� Garz贸n was quoted on Wednesday in a Spanish radio station, citing 鈥渢he great job [Assange] has done with his organization.鈥�
Garz贸n met Mr. Assange 鈥渞ecently鈥� in Ecuador鈥檚 embassy in London, according to the statement. In June, Assange sought refuge there to avoid what would have been an imminent extradition to Sweden over rape allegations, although he hasn鈥檛 been formally charged. Ecuador has said it will take as long as it wants to make a decision.聽The UK has a pending arrest warrant for breaking his bail terms.
Ecuador鈥檚 Foreign Minister Ricardo Pati帽o said Assange 鈥渉as the right to hire and look for the legal advice that he needs or may need for the asylum request.鈥�
Assange respects the judicial process, Garz贸n said. 鈥淲e want and demand guarantees that the process he is facing is really just.鈥�
US denouncement
The United States has not charged Assange either, but the Obama administration has publicly denounced him for allegedly putting lives in danger for disclosing thousands of secret documents compromising intelligence operations and sources, on top of angering a myriad of governments over embarrassing revelations.
US Army Private Bradley Manning is facing a court martial, among other reasons, for 鈥渁iding the enemy鈥� when he allegedly leaked documents to WikiLeaks. WikiLeaks and its supporters contend that their revelations are protected under free speech and a legitimate vehicle in defense of transparency.
Garz贸n will defend both WikiLeaks and Julian Assange from 鈥渢he existing abuse of process; expose the arbitrary, extrajudicial actions, and show how the secret US processes have compromised and contaminated other legal processes, including the extradition process.鈥� He also accused the UK and Sweden for being complicit in 鈥渨rongfully abrogating [Assange鈥檚] rights.鈥�
Celebrity status聽
厂辫补颈苍鈥檚 Supreme Court in February disbarred Garz贸n for illegally ordering wiretappings, in effect ending his career. As a judge, Garz贸n rose to celebrity status for his relentless quixotic battles against South American dictators, terrorism, drug lords, and US sanctioned torture in Guantanamo.
He is not new to the UK legal system either. In 2008, he ordered the arrest of Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet and unsuccessfully tried to have him extradited to face charges for human rights violations.
Later that year Garz贸n opened a controversial investigation for human rights violations during 厂辫补颈苍鈥檚 Civil War that ended in 1939. Several extreme-right organizations soon filed three separate complaints against him, one of them related to his attempt to unearth the remains of over 100,000 people killed during the conflict.
Garz贸n is trying to appeal his disbarment. He opened a legal firm in Madrid and is still involved in human rights advocacy, but in an advisory role.