You think his self-imposed exile is an egotistical act instead of what it really is: Step outside and you're gone. I would really like to see what your actions would be in this situation. But you don't seem the type to risk your own life for the sake of others knowing the truth.
But if you think your option (b) of him being creepy is the one that makes more sense even after the fact that the woman has proven ties with the CIA than I feel sorry for you and our society because that represents the death of what I think is one of the most important pillars of modern civilization: freedom of press.
According to a now-deleted article by some third-rate conspiracy theorist, she at some point during a foreign exchange in Cuba worked with (not for) a feminist organisation there, the leader of which was alleged to have ties to the CIA.
Yes, except for the troubles he brought on his own head, which don't relate to Iraq but do relate to his extremely asocial narcissistic behaviours.
His original hacking was done because he believed NASA was hiding war work (he hacked the Australian academic network seeking a path into NASA via DECnet) and predates the war in Iraq by a decade or more.
edit: Any yes, Iraq was a crime.
Assange didn't have to be perfect but the trail of wreckage behind him of past collaborators and friends speaks volumes.
I don't like Assanges personality and I think it has many, many flaws. But that isn't of interest. The documents are actually public now, I would suggest to give them a read.
>...the woman has proven ties with the CIA...
Pot, meet kettle.
This guy colluded with racist sleeze-bags like Sean Hannity and Donald Trump Jr. to bring fascism back to the mainstream. Whatever fate awaits him is more than he deserves.
What happens now is very sad. He is facing a pretty dire state of affairs.
(c) he did actually sexually abuse women, and that's being used to get him into custody and facilitate his illegal extradition to the US.
Well, makes one wonder what kind of thing he was trying to delay.
People denying that such behaviour is rape make me ... sad? It's perfectly fine to stipulate a difference between this and the stereotypical violent assault by a total stranger in the dark, and Swedish law and sentencing practices do indeed take such factors into account. But to apparently consider this perfectly fine seems indefensible.
Or how many will, when given a choice between:
(a) a wild conspiracies theories about a totally-average Swedish woman being paid by the CIA to make up some not even that damning rape charges, then asks him for an $20/5min STD test in exchange for dropping the charges, knowing too well that Assange will be stupid enough to refuse, so as to enable execution of a convoluted three-country extradition plan when they could just as well wait for Assange to travel to whatever country has the extradition treaty they liked best
or (b): guy with a history of being egotistical, who rarely managed to work with anybody, and who has a history of ignoring the house rules on hygiene (cf cat) thought nothing of discreetly trying again without a condom
...choose the former for no reason but political or personal sympathy.