Julian Assange's partner launched crowdfunding campaign to fight against US government's bid to extradite him
- Stella Moris, 37, accused Trump administration of 'targeting' WikiLeaks founder
- She has set up a crowdfunding page for his defence seeking £25,000
- Julian Assange, 49, has been held at Belmarsh Prison, London, for 16 months
The partner of Julian Assange has launched a crowdfunding campaign to fight against the US government's bid to extradite him.
Stella Moris, 37, said it is a 'David vs Goliath' legal case with 'unthinkable' ramifications, and accused the Trump administration of 'targeting' the father of her two children.
The WikiLeaks founder has been held at Belmarsh Prison, London, for 16 months ahead of his extradition hearing in September.
The US stepped up its case at the '11th hour' last week after submitting further allegations against the 49-year-old which would see him spending even longer behind bars.
Assange faces 18 charges under the US espionage act and conspiracy to commit computer intrusion.
He is accused of working with former US army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning to leak hundreds of thousands of classified documents.
Stella Moris, 37 (second right), has launched a £25,000 crowdfunding initiative to fund Julian Assange's defence. He has been held in Belmarsh prison, London, for 16 months
Ms Moris said her partner and father of her two children (pictured) is being 'targeted' by the Trump administration. She added the legal case is 'monumental' with serious ramifications
Launching her appeal for £25,000 to fund his defence, Ms Moris said: 'Julian is being targeted by the United States administration for the crime of journalism.
'He helped expose war crimes and human rights abuses which the US would have preferred to keep hidden from public view. No-one has been held responsible for the serious crimes Julian has exposed. This extradition aims to entomb and silence him forever.
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'This is a monumental legal case which is an attack on everyone’s right to know about scandals which politicians and governments want buried. If the US government is successful, the ramifications are unthinkable.
'It is a battle of David v Goliath and we can’t do this alone. We are calling on people everywhere to join us in this fight.'
She said Assange is confined to his cell at least 23 hours a day and has had no visitors since March.
The page has almost reached its funding target following donations from 365 people
Assange, 49, faces 17 charges under the US espionage act and conspiracy to commit computer intrusion. Pictured: Protesters outside Westminster Magistrates' Court last week
Baltasar Garzon, who leads Assange’s international defence, said: 'This is an unprecedented legal battle and so much is at stake.
'Doing justice to Mr Assange’s defence is a vast undertaking. The legal team is having to do this with Julian, the most able person to contribute, locked away in prison.'
The CrowdJustice appeal has so far received £17,418 from 365 donors.
Assange's lawyers worked to decide whether they would seek a further delay to his trial at a magistrates court in the Old Bailey last week, after the US brought fresh charges.
Florence Iveson, representing Assange, said the 33-page submission was 'astonishing' and 'potentially abusive', claiming the US was 'seeking to add a considerable amount of conduct and seeking to extend the case significantly'.
The extradition hearing was initially set for May, but had to be postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Ms Moris and Assange have been engaged since 2017. They fell in love after she came to work on his case five years ago.
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