Why did Julian Assange turn himself in?

[berni_mccoy]

Discuss...

[gratuitous]

1. Because there was warrant out for his arrest, and he decided to address the charges?

I dunno, but that seems the simplest answer.

[berni_mccoy]

3. That doesn't make sense...

He seems to only abide by laws that he deems are just. Are you saying he deemed the warrant for his arrest as just?

[gratuitous]

9. Whoops, my bad

I thought you wanted to "discuss" this; the word you wanted in your original post was "dispute."

You're welcome.

[berni_mccoy]

11. Simply asking a question. No need to get hostile.

[superduperfarleft]

14. Of course you are. n/t

[superduperfarleft]

13. "He seems to only abide by laws that he deems are just."

Based on what? Which laws has he broken in regards to the leaks? Is there a speeding ticket in his past that only you know about?

[gratuitous]

15. There's that "dispute" thing again

:shrug:

[berni_mccoy]

16. Based on the fact that he was seeking asylum

You don't seek political asylum when running from one countries laws if you deem those laws are just.

[superduperfarleft]

18. Specifically which law are you referring to? n/t

[berni_mccoy]

20. Why was Assange seeking asylum in Switzerland?

[superduperfarleft]

22. You tell me.

Clearly you had an opinion before you even started this thread with your incredibly disingenuous OP.

[berni_mccoy]

24. My opinion on the matter is irrelevant to the fact that none can truly answer the original question

That is more telling.

[superduperfarleft]

29. Several people have answered your question.

He turned himself in because there was a warrant for his arrest. It's you and your disingenuous OP that wants to make this into a part of your throw-it-against-the-wall-and-see-what-sticks form of character assassination.

[pipi_k]

43. Um, I'm sensing a mixed message here...

In your OP you say you want to "discuss" it.


Now you're saying that "none can truly answer the original question"...which, IMO, means that you are the sole possessor of the Truth that nobody else is smart enough to figure out.


Which is it?

Do you want an open discussion without insulting others? Or are you trying to make others look stupid?


I think it's only fair for people to know what the motive is here so they don't waste their time...

:shrug:

[spanone]

54. perhaps he feared for his life? no one actually knows except mr assange

[laughingliberal]

61. Because people have called for his assassination & are trying to write new laws...

under which they can prosecute him?

[HopeHoops]

2. It was free taco night at the London police station.

[Contrary1]

4. He's safer in jail...

I figure he got word that a certain country/former VP was getting too close to having him suicided.

[berni_mccoy]

8. People suicide in jail all the time...

[mike_c]

5. presumably because he was continuing his efforts to cooperate...

...with the Swedish prosecutor. Recall that he had voluntarily remained in Sweden for a month previously in order to answer questions, and had only left Sweden when the prosecutor dismissed the allegations and gave him permission to leave without fear of arrest.

It is telling that the Swedish prosecutor has still not provided any evidence against Mr. Assange, nor have any actual charges been filed. He is being held-- currently without bail-- for nothing more than an allegation that has already been dismissed by prosecutors. The arrest warrant was utterly corrupt-- why isn't everyone howling about this travesty of law enforcement rather than dutifully repeating dishonest memes about rape and sexual assault?

[berni_mccoy]

7. Then I would ask again...

If the charges were dropped and the warrant was bogus, why would he abide by it? he was seeking political asylum. You don't seek political asylum unless you are running from laws you deem as unjust.

[Matariki]

50. Mike_c just gave you a clear and reasonable answer. A factual answer.

Give it a break.

[Rebubula]

6. Safer...

..than being found in a Czech hotel room after committing suicide by shooting himself in the back of the head four times.

[loudsue]

12. Assange isn't the problem....he's just the face. There is an army of

people who will continue what he is doing. There's no way they're going to put the toothpaste back in that tube. Killing Assange won't stop the avalanche.

[ironrooster]

10. because we would be reading this...

you know, something like this... "Police have no explanation as to where Assange was able to purchase
the gun or why he decided to turn it on (pick one: (1)himself (2) the police).

[Occam Bandage]

17. I'd guess that the answer is, "Because there is a warrant out for his arrest."

As such, his options are to turn himself in and fight the charges, and to become a fugitive at the center of an international manhunt. It seems he believes the former is more likely to be successful than the latter.

[berni_mccoy]

19. But everyone here is saying the warrant is bogus

If so, Assange ought to be able to find asylum somewhere... He did say he was seeking asylum in Switzerland.

[superduperfarleft]

21. If you get a speeding ticket you didn't earn, do you go to court to fight it,

or do you seek asylum somewhere?

[berni_mccoy]

23. A speeding ticket and rape charges are two completely different things

and yes, people do fight and win against speeding tickets. It doesn't take a lawyer either.

[superduperfarleft]

26. "A speeding ticket and rape charges are two completely different things"

Not for the purposes of this "conversation." They both involve violations of the law.

And since the only law he is accused of breaking has nothing to do with the leaks, you still haven't clarified why it is you think Assange believes that this as-yet unnamed law he's supposedly breaking is unjust.

[berni_mccoy]

30. Your argument: "Rape = Speeding Ticket". Nuff said.

[superduperfarleft]

32. You know, you don't win the argument just because you say you do.

You still haven't mentioned what laws (other than the "sex by surprise" charge) he is supposedly breaking because he feels they're unjust.

(Oh, and he's not charged with "rape.")

[Name removed]

36. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Occam Bandage]

28. He's wanted for "Sex by Surprise," which carries a $700 fine.

That's closer to "speeding ticket" than "rape."

[berni_mccoy]

35. That's not what the charges are. They are molestation and unlawful coercion. Statutory Rape

in other words.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julian_Assange#Alleged_sex_offenses

[mike_c]

44. that is incorrect....

There are NO charges. Not rape. Not even "sex by surprise" at this point. Assange is being held PENDING charges by the Swedish prosecutor, which has so far declined to provide any charges whatsoever.

[berni_mccoy]

55. From the article

"Although Sweden's charges included molestation, and unlawful coercion,"

You don't file a red notice with Interpol unless you have charges.

[mike_c]

60. again, you might believe that, but at this time there have been no actual charges filed....

Really does make you wonder, doesn't it? How could such a thing happen?

[killbotfactory]

45. He's not being charged with rape

Not that facts matter.

[berni_mccoy]

56. Yes, he is

From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julian_Assange#Alleged_sex_offenses

"Although Sweden's charges included molestation, and unlawful coercion,"

molestation + unlawful coercion = statutory rape.

[kenny blankenship]

46. oooh he must be guilty then!

You are BRILLIANT.

[superduperfarleft]

47. I know, right? Hiring a lawyer automatically means one is guilty.

Words fail...

[kenny blankenship]

Look, if he was a law-abiding citizen he would've shot it out with the cops

to protest his innocence, or at least he would have led them on a low speed chase around the British Isles.

[Occam Bandage]

25. Then it's a simple question:

Which does Mr. Assange trust more: the justice of Swedish courts, or his ability to evade the law?

[berni_mccoy]

27. Or...

maybe not even Switzerland would grant him asylum for rape charges?

[superduperfarleft]

31. So his best option was to turn himself in as opposed to being a fugitive.

Seems like a rational, level-headed decision on his part.

[DisgustipatedinCA]

37. what warrant?

[berni_mccoy]

38. Interpol issues a Red Notice... in other words, an International Arrest Warrant

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interpol_notice

[laughingliberal]

63. And, yet, no formal charges have been filed against him. nt

[canetoad]

64. Factually incorrect.

He said on 4 November that he was CONSIDERING seeking asylum in Switzerland.

[cbdo2007]

33. Either he becomes a hero in jail or a martyr in death.

Being still alive is more fun so I'm guessing that's why he choose to turn himself in. Even if he's a political prisoner in jail for the rest of his life he'll be worshipped as a hero for the rest of his life.

[Lucinda]

34. Write him a letter and ask him.

[muriel_volestrangler]

39. Are you interested in a serious answer? (nt)

[superduperfarleft]

40. .

:rofl:

Good one.

[berni_mccoy]

48. This question seems to have really bothered you...

I am sorry for that.

[Name removed]

49. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[muriel_volestrangler]

51. So the answer is 'no', then? (nt)

[jwirr]

41. I custody it will be harder to assassinate him without the world watching.

[notesdev]

42. It helps his cause

Watching governments bend themselves into pretzels to capture him, exposing their own complete corruption in the process, this strongly reinforces the point of the leaks and keeps attention on them.

Now everyone on the planet knows that Interpol is a politicized joke and that if you value your freedom, you should not have sex with anybody in Sweden.

[Blue_Tires]

52. so the media wouldn't have their easy way out by playing up the

"mastermind fugitive from law" -storyline instead of actually discussing the content of the leaks...

And the whole "fugitive" angle was getting more absurd media play by the minute -- Another DUer noted last week that Wolf Blitzer spent 30+ minutes of an hour segment on the "rape" charges

[MineralMan]

53. It's an interesting question. I lean toward the safety concern

mostly. Lots of people have threatened Assange, and a British jail is safer than his probably not-so-secret location. I'd probably have made the same choice if I were in his position. Of course, I'd never be in his position, but...

[OregonBlue]

57. I agree. I think he did because it is safer for him. I think there were lots of governments out

there that might have reason to see him "disappeared". Smart move on his part.

[Krakowiak]

58. Wow.

First the authoritarian apologists used the "If he is innocent, why doesn't he turn himself in and face the charges?"

And now this?

Pathetic.

[TexasObserver]

59. Because if he hadn't, they'd have taken him with force.

Recall that he and his lawyer thought surely he would be released pending further action, but they were wrong. This case isn't being handled like any other case. This case has shadowy hands all over it, and those shadowy hands demand their form of justice.

[Life Long Dem]

62. Because he knows they are bogus charges

And he'd look guilty if he didn't turn himself in. Something he probably just wants to get over and done with.