WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange can appeal against extradition to the United States on espionage charges, a London court ruled Monday 91裸聊视频� a decision likely to further drag out an already long legal saga.

High Court judges Victoria Sharp and Jeremy Johnson ruled for Assange after his lawyers argued that the U.S. government provided 91裸聊视频渂latantly inadequate91裸聊视频� assurances that he would have the same free speech protections as an American citizen if extradited from Britain.

Assange, 52, has been indicted on 17 espionage charges and one charge of computer misuse over his website91裸聊视频檚 publication of a trove of classified U.S. documents almost 15 years ago.

Hundreds of supporters cheered and applauded outside court as news of the ruling reached them from inside the Royal Courts of Justice.

Assange91裸聊视频檚 wife, Stella, said the U.S. had tried to put 91裸聊视频渓ipstick on a pig 91裸聊视频� but the judges did not buy it.91裸聊视频� She said the U.S. should 91裸聊视频渞ead the situation91裸聊视频� and drop the case.

91裸聊视频淎s a family we are relieved but how long can this go on?91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淭his case is shameful and it is taking an enormous toll on Julian.91裸聊视频�

The Australian computer expert has spent the last five years in a British high-security prison after taking refuge in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London for seven years. Assange was not in court to hear the ruling because of health reasons, his lawyer said.

American prosecutors allege that Assange encouraged and helped U.S. Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning to steal diplomatic cables and military files that WikiLeaks published.

Assange91裸聊视频檚 lawyers have argued he was a journalist who exposed U.S. military wrongdoing in Iraq and Afghanistan. Sending him to the U.S., they said, would expose him to a politically motivated prosecution and risk a 91裸聊视频渇lagrant denial of justice.91裸聊视频�

The U.S. government says Assange91裸聊视频檚 actions went way beyond those of a journalist gathering information, amounting to an attempt to solicit, steal and indiscriminately publish classified government documents.

The brief ruling from the bench followed arguments over Assange91裸聊视频檚 claim that by releasing the trove of confidential documents he was essentially a publisher and due the free press protections guaranteed by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

The hearing was a follow-up to a provisional ruling in March that said he could take his case to the Court of Appeal unless the U.S. guaranteed he would not face the death penalty if extradited and would have the same free speech protections as a U.S. citizen.

The U.S. provided those assurances but Assange91裸聊视频檚 lawyers only accepted that he would not face the prospect of capital punishment.

They said the assurance that Assange could 91裸聊视频渞aise and seek to rely upon91裸聊视频� the First Amendment fell short of the protections he deserved. Further, they argued that the prosecutor refused to say he would not challenge Assange91裸聊视频檚 right to use such a defense.

91裸聊视频淭he real issue is whether an adequate assurance has been provided to remove the real risk identified by the court,91裸聊视频� Fitzgerald said. 91裸聊视频淚t is submitted that no adequate assurance has been made.91裸聊视频�

The court previously said that without the right to a First Amendment defense, Assange91裸聊视频檚 extradition could be incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights, which also provides free speech and media protections.

Attorney James Lewis, representing the U.S., said Assange91裸聊视频檚 conduct was 91裸聊视频渟imply unprotected91裸聊视频� by the First Amendment.

91裸聊视频淣o one, neither U.S. citizens nor foreign citizens, are entitled to rely on the First Amendment in relation to publication of illegally obtained national defense information giving the names of innocent sources, to their grave and imminent risk of harm,91裸聊视频� Lewis said.

Assange91裸聊视频檚 lawyers say he could face up to 175 years in prison if convicted, though American authorities have said any sentence would likely be much shorter.

Assange91裸聊视频檚 family and supporters say his physical and mental health have suffered during more than a decade of legal battles, which includes seven years spent inside the Ecuadorian Embassy in London from 2012 until 2019. He has spent the past five years in a British high-security prison.

Commuters emerging from a Tube stop near the courthouse couldn91裸聊视频檛 miss a large sign bearing Assange91裸聊视频檚 photo and the words, 91裸聊视频淧ublishing is not a crime. War crimes are.91裸聊视频�

Scores of supporters gathered outside the neo-Gothic Royal Courts of Justice chanting 91裸聊视频淔ree Julian Assange91裸聊视频� and 91裸聊视频淧ress freedom, Assange freedom.91裸聊视频� Some held white flags aimed at President Joe Biden, exhorting: 91裸聊视频淟et him go Joe.91裸聊视频�

Biden said last month that he was considering a request from Australia to drop the case and let Assange return to his home country.

Officials provided no other details but Assange91裸聊视频檚 wife said it was 91裸聊视频渁 good sign91裸聊视频� and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the comment was encouraging.

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Brian Melley And Jill Lawless, The Associated Press