Finally Some Good News for Julian Assange

Prosecutors in Sweden are no longer pursuing a rape case against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, whose 50-week sentence in a British prison came as a result of the allegation. The decision to drop the case came after seven witnesses were interviewed, reports the BBC. Though it described the alleged victim as credible, the Swedish Prosecution Authority said Tuesday that "the evidence has weakened considerably due to the long period of time that has elapsed since the events in question." While he denies the allegation made in 2010, Assange was found guilty of skipping bail to take up asylum at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London in 2012 in an effort to avoid extradition to Sweden.

The statute of limitations on the case would've expired in 2020. Assange still faces extradition to the US, where he's accused of hacking government computers and violating the Espionage Act. As he appeared in court via video link from London's Belmarsh prison on Monday, a lawyer complained he was unable to prepare for his "very challenging case" because he'd been given a substandard computer. "It is not the sort of computer needed to work on the case," the lawyer said, per Reuters. WENN reports Pamela Anderson, a friend and supporter, was to meet with Assange on Tuesday before "a personal emergency" derailed her plans. Extradition proceedings remain scheduled for February. (More Julian Assange stories.)