My understanding (based on reporting [1]) is that the Obama administration was very much on the fence about prosecuting Assange, largely because they were concerned about political blowback and precedent that it might set for prosecuting journalists. The added blowback from using the Swedish rape charge as a "backdoor" extradition would have made the case politically even more charged. So there was a view that, while extradition was possible, it was so politically fraught that Assange had a pretty good chance of walking away from it. This was also a time when Wikileaks/Assange was relatively more popular, since they weren't perceived as taking a partisan interest in an election outcome [2].

Then Donald Trump got elected and Assange was doomed.

[1] https://apnews.com/3d9c190f66cc4e5b8669bcc0b6c1eff9 [2] https://theintercept.com/2018/02/14/julian-assange-wikileaks...

>He chose conditions that were arguably worse in most respects but one (access to communication/internet) than a Swedish prison.

Are Nordic prisoners allowed to walk out the front door wheneever they choose?

Last time I checked, prison required removing freedom. You have to 'escape' prison, not walk out the front door.

Just saying, this bad rationalization only works on people biased towards Julian and looking to excuse his rape and the lack of justice therein.

Here's the killer point: if Nordic prisons are better, why didn't Julian stay there instead?

I bet he wanted internet, unlimited guest visits, London takeout, and the freedom to leave whenever he wanted, as well as being able to avoid a court trial and never have to be declared guilty.

"Justice!" (to the tune of "The Aristocrats!")

> Here's the killer point: if Nordic prisons are better, why didn't Julian stay there instead?

Because he was worried about the US finding some flimsy justification to extradite him (an Australian citizen) and prosecute him locally. Fears which, apparently, were justified.

And I must say, it is bitter to have been called paranoid for years for saying US would extradite him. Or for talking about ECHELON for years and see it go from "you are crazy" to "everyone knows every country does that" after Snowden.

Flimsy justification? He played spy games laundering intelligence from the Russian military to successfully attack US Elections.

Julian Assange literally attacked American soverignity and arguably was a key factor in delivering the American Presidency to Russia.

At this point, I hope he get's Epstein'd.

> Are Nordic prisoners allowed to walk out the front door wheneever they choose?

Swedish prisons are a lot better than Embassy of Ecuador in London, if you have to live recluded, at least chose the best.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/telegraph-view/11256813/...

> Here's the killer point: if Nordic prisons are better, why didn't Julian stay there instead?

We should ask him.

Maybe because he's paranoid?