3 ms·

I think neither. The treatment have most likely not been politically motivated, as Sweden's justice system doesn't work that way. Politicians can't really sway

by tjogin 15y ago

I think neither. The treatment have most likely not been politically motivated, as Sweden's justice system doesn't work that way. Politicians can't really sway prosecutions. It's also likely that Assange is not guilty of rape (the allegations have a lot of holes and inconsistencies in them), though probably guilty of being an asshole. Alas, that's not a crime. Nevertheless, this is not a reason to drop the case without investigating it properly.

octover 15y ago
I always wondered why if the extradition is just to question him, it would be cheaper to just fly out a Swedish prosecutor/team and conduct the interview in the UK. Then they could determine if it should file charges and from what I understand the extradition for a trial is clearer and simpler to obtain. Swedish prosecutors might be immune from official or open political pressure, but I'm sure back channels exist. That said I don't think any are being used in this case. One thing I've seen a handful of times in Sweden, is a problem the US has too, prosecutors trying to make a name for themselves. I'd say that is what is overcoming the shaky facts of the case, a prosecutor who thinks it could pay off career wise.
beagle3 15y ago
I have no specific knowledge of the Swedish justice system. But any system can be swayed, and from 3000 miles away, the Swedish system doesn't look really resilient: e.g. http://www.zeropaid.com/news/9622/swedish_prosecutor_wont_investigate_top_cops_mpaa_ties/ http://www.zeropaid.com/news/9622/swedish_prosecutor_wont_in... , and both the Pirate Bay trial and the Assange case look like a charade. If you believe that there's such a thing as an independent, only-cares-about-the-law-and-not-about-any-ties-and-pressure justice system out there, there's a bridge near my house that I can offer to sell you. Things aren't (much) different now than they have always been - there's law for the common people; there's law for the influential people; and when you upset the _really_ influential people, the law will be rewritten against you, retroactively.
- tjogin 15y ago
  > I have no specific knowledge of the Swedish justice system. But... Thanks for your input! > If you believe that there's... I don't. What I know is that sweden prides itself on having the strongest freedom of speech laws in the world (which is why Assange wanted to bring Wikileaks there in the first place), and that other disruptive forces like piratebay haven't felt any governmental pressure in the past. I've seen nothing that suggests that any government official have commited the serious crime of involving themselves in a particular prosecution case. It's extremely unusual for a politician to even offer their opinion about a particular case, as that is borderline illegal for them to do. Most likely, government officials weren't involved in this case. Most likely, it's just another overblown rape charge. Sweden has lots of those, as they're constantly redefining what constitutes rape. Slippery slope. But whatever you and I think, we'll find out for sure if/when Assange faces trial in Sweden. If he is found not guilty, clearly the government couldn't or didn't sway the prosecution. If he is convicted, then at least the possibility that some government official did intervene exists.

by tjogin 15y ago

octover 15y ago

I always wondered why if the extradition is just to question him, it would be cheaper to just fly out a Swedish prosecutor/team and conduct the interview in the UK. Then they could determine if it should file charges and from what I understand the extradition for a trial is clearer and simpler to obtain. Swedish prosecutors might be immune from official or open political pressure, but I'm sure back channels exist. That said I don't think any are being used in this case. One thing I've seen a handful of times in Sweden, is a problem the US has too, prosecutors trying to make a name for themselves. I'd say that is what is overcoming the shaky facts of the case, a prosecutor who thinks it could pay off career wise.

beagle3 15y ago

I have no specific knowledge of the Swedish justice system. But any system can be swayed, and from 3000 miles away, the Swedish system doesn't look really resilient: e.g. http://www.zeropaid.com/news/9622/swedish_prosecutor_wont_investigate_top_cops_mpaa_ties/ http://www.zeropaid.com/news/9622/swedish_prosecutor_wont_in... , and both the Pirate Bay trial and the Assange case look like a charade. If you believe that there's such a thing as an independent, only-cares-about-the-law-and-not-about-any-ties-and-pressure justice system out there, there's a bridge near my house that I can offer to sell you. Things aren't (much) different now than they have always been - there's law for the common people; there's law for the influential people; and when you upset the _really_ influential people, the law will be rewritten against you, retroactively.

tjogin 15y ago
> I have no specific knowledge of the Swedish justice system. But... Thanks for your input! > If you believe that there's... I don't. What I know is that sweden prides itself on having the strongest freedom of speech laws in the world (which is why Assange wanted to bring Wikileaks there in the first place), and that other disruptive forces like piratebay haven't felt any governmental pressure in the past. I've seen nothing that suggests that any government official have commited the serious crime of involving themselves in a particular prosecution case. It's extremely unusual for a politician to even offer their opinion about a particular case, as that is borderline illegal for them to do. Most likely, government officials weren't involved in this case. Most likely, it's just another overblown rape charge. Sweden has lots of those, as they're constantly redefining what constitutes rape. Slippery slope. But whatever you and I think, we'll find out for sure if/when Assange faces trial in Sweden. If he is found not guilty, clearly the government couldn't or didn't sway the prosecution. If he is convicted, then at least the possibility that some government official did intervene exists.