My understanding is that he had consensual sex with them, they went to sleep, then he had nonconsensual sex with them while they were sleeping. They were individually disturbed by these events, but did not decide to file charges until they compared stories.

That's very different from "the sex became nonconsensual retroactively". And I don't think it's uncommon for women brave the consequences of speaking out about sexual assault when they believe there's a pattern of behavior they can protect other women from.

> My understanding is that he had consensual sex with them, they went to sleep, then he had nonconsensual sex with them while they were sleeping.

Source? Seems to differ from: https://www.theguardian.com/media/2010/dec/17/julian-assange...

Thanks. I must have been thinking of Miss W's story there. Miss A's account is even more serious: clear sexual assault.

You're just speculating. But sure, in case the accusations are fabricated that's a much more plausible explanation than that there's a big conspiracy going on.

No, one of the charges is that he started having sex with someone who was asleep.