Assange's defense is arguing that he is protected against extradition to the United States (to be tried for publishing WikiLeaks materials) by a 2007 UK/US trea

Assange's defense is arguing that he is protected against extradition to the United States (to be tried for publishing WikiLeaks materials) by a 2007 UK/US treaty which bars extradition for political offenses. The prosecution is making two separate counterarguments: - The treaty cannot in fact prohibit extradition for "political offenses" because this was not included in an earlier 2003 Act of Parliament which also set forth rules around extraditions. - Assange's publication of the WikiLeaks materials cannot be termed a "political offense" because according to a narrow reading, it did not have the objective of an immediate near-term change in government or its policy, and also because of jurisdictional hair splitting.