Dozens of Australian politicians urge US to abandon Julian Assange extradition

Julian Assange is in custody at London’s Belmarsh prison as he fights a US attempt to extradite him to face charges in connection with the publication of leaked documents. Photograph: Frank Augstein/AP

Australian federal politicians from across the political spectrum have jointly asked the US attorney general, Merrick Garland, to abandon attempts to extradite Julian Assange from the UK.

The 48 MPs and senators – including 13 from the governing Labor party – warned that the pursuit of the WikiLeaks founder “set a dangerous precedent” for press freedom and would damage the reputation of the US.