WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange says he is a political prisoner.
Two women in Sweden say he is a rapist.
Currently, Assange has been holed up in the Ecuadorian Embassy for the past two months, where he is waging a verbal war against the British government and its attempt to extradite him to Sweeden to face sexual assault charges.
Assange says the charges are a trumped-up attempt to eventually have him sent to the U.S. to face charges over the 2010 release of government's diplomatic and military secrets. Sweden denies this charge, and, frankly, it seems an attempt by Assange to avoid prosecution on the charges he is facing in that country.
Ecuador has granted Assange asylum, and since that country does not have an extradition treaty with the countries involved in the dispute, he would be free from prosecution - and free to spout his "witch hunt" allegation.
However, British authorities have, to this point, refused to back down and promised to arrest Assange if he leaves the embassy. British officials have warned Ecuador if they don't turn him over, that country's diplomatic immunity status may be revoked, freeing police to move in and arrest Assange.
If Assange is innocent of these charges, as he claims, he should demand a return to Sweden to clear his name. However, his refusal casts a large shadow of doubt on his claims of innocence. And the longer this situation goes on, the more chance it ends violently. Does he care about the safety of other people, or is he only concerned about himself?
Assange deserves prosecution. WikiLeaks' release of the documents not only caused embarrassment for America, but put many American lives in danger. He certainly is not the hero many of his supporters holding vigil outside the Ecuadorian Embassy claim him to be.
However, the charges have nothing to do with WikiLeaks. They involve accusations he raped two women in Sweden.
Assange's attempts to paint himself as a political prisoner are cowardly.
