WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange appeared in court Monday to fight extradition to the United States on charges of conspiring to hack into a Pentagon computer, with his legal team saying it needs more time to prepare its case. Assange raised a fist in a defiant gesture to acknowledge his supporters in the gallery at Westminster Magistrates’ Court for a case management hearing. Assange’s legal team is seeking to delay his full extradition hearing which is now set for five days in February. The public gallery was jammed with Assange supporters, including former London Mayor Ken Livingstone, and outside the courthouse others carried placards calling for Assange to be released. Assange has been in Belmarsh Prison on the outskirts of London while the extradition case is being prepared.

Source: Los Angeles Times October 21, 2019 09:11 UTC