Technically free to leave the embassy, so it's not a false statement. But would definitely be arrested and extradited if he did, so it's not quite a fair statement either.
Also found this article which said he wouldn't be prosecuted by the U.S. in 2013: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/julia...
Also, lol @ this article from a right wing publication: https://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/crime/item/27936-trump.... I wonder what the spin will be now that Trump's administration is going after Assange?
Indeed.
>But would definitely be arrested and extradited
Who has ever denied that he'd be arrested? To say that he'd definitely be extradited is speculation.
It's still not at all clear that he will be prosecuted by the US, so I can't see anything particularly silly about someone predicting in 2013 -- before the Russian links were widely known -- that Assange would not be prosecuted by the US.
The New American does not appear to be a serious publication. No doubt you can find people on the internet who've said silly things on all kinds of topics.
Don't forget tortured. Manning was tortured prior to trial, as determined by the UN following an investigation[1].
Indeed, Manning attempted suicide twice under this "cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment" (words from the UN).
[1]: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/mar/12/bradley-mannin...