Wikileaks founder Julian Assange wanted for rape in Sweden

[Gustaf]

He is wanted on the strongest level of suspicion (probable grounds) by Swedish police. Big news on Swedish tabloids right now. Discuss with maps and all that jazz.

[Gustaf]

It's two women in different cities, if I understand correctly. Damn, that is fast work. Apparently they're afraid of reporting him, or something.

For those who didn't know Julian Assange has been residing in Sweden for a little while because we have the strongest laws for protecting freedom of speech. Unlucky for him that (I think) we have fairly harsh laws against rape (not in terms of punishment, which is as mild as all other punishments in Sweden, but in terms of how easy you get aquitted).

[Silent Hunter]

Just broke on the BBC. Innocent until proven guilty of course, but who's reminded of Al Capone here?

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

Just broke on the BBC. Innocent until proven guilty of course, but who's reminded of Al Capone here?

That's kinda different.  Al Capone didn't really have any legitimacy behind his work in organized crime, whereas at least with Assange, there's a level of legitimacy to be argued.

[Lunar]

weird.

[Lunar]

His Twitter feed:

"Expressen is a tabloid; No one here has been contacted by Swedish police. Needless to say this will prove hugely distracting."

"Julian Assange: the charges are without basis and their issue at this moment is deeply disturbing."

"We were warned to expect "dirty tricks". Now we have the first one: http://bit.ly/bv5ku9"

[minionofmidas]

Just broke on the BBC. Innocent until proven guilty of course, but who's reminded of Al Capone here?

That's kinda different.  Al Capone didn't really have any legitimacy behind his work in organized crime, whereas at least with Assange, there's a level of legitimacy to be argued.

"a level of"? Wtf?

[opebo]

Does anyone here really believed he raped anyone?  I mean seriously folks - a guy is directly in the cross-hairs of the biggest fascist state in the world, for freedom fighting, and we are expected to believe not that this state is setting him up but that he is, by coincidence, also a serial rapist as well as a freedom fighter?

[Lunar]

The timing is disturbing,

[Gustaf]

Expressen is a tabloid, but it's not like an English tabloid - we don't have that here. Besides, the police is on the record with this and it is now reported on all major Swedish media.

I realize why people are screaming conspiracy, but I must admit that I kind of doubt it. The women could be agent provocateurs I suppose, but it seems a bit far-fetched, doesn't it? The police certainly wouldn't be taking him in on nothing, I don't think.

And the timing doesn't really strike me as odd. He is famous and abroad, it's the perfect time to rape someone.

[Lunar]

He also has made himself an enemy to a lot of people too, not just within the US, but the Russian mob and others.

He's a mysterious character, it's hard to say.  Been confirmed by the AP.

[Sewer]

Now hes no longer wanted.

[Gustaf]

He also has made himself an enemy to a lot of people too, not just within the US, but the Russian mob and others.

He's a mysterious character, it's hard to say.  Been confirmed by the AP.

What I find odd is how his initial denial went, with the tabloid point. I mean, the original article names the prosecutor stating the accusation, it isn't as if that would be made up.

The only credible conspiracy theory I can see here is the women being paid to lie, but it does seem far-fetched to me, to be honest. We'll know more shortly, I guess.

EDIT: yeah, it's off, apparently!

[Joe Biden 2020]

Now hes no longer wanted.

Yeah, I just got an e-mail stating the rape warrant has been withdrawn from my local ABC affiliate's breaking news e-mail alerts.

[Thomas D]

Well that was a fun 6 hours.

[Gustaf]

This is extremely strange and very interesting. This definitely points to the accusations being fabricated, of course.

[Gustaf]

Apparently the lesser charge of sexual molestation still stands and has not been dropped. So it might be a question of technicalities.

[Silent Hunter]

Very odd.

[opebo]

I realize why people are screaming conspiracy, but I must admit that I kind of doubt it. The women could be agent provocateurs I suppose, but it seems a bit far-fetched, doesn't it? The police certainly wouldn't be taking him in on nothing, I don't think.

It doesn't sound far-fetched.  You realize that the US government and its representatives have almost unlimited resourced in money and manpower?

And the timing doesn't really strike me as odd. He is famous and abroad, it's the perfect time to rape someone.

Its rather an absurd idea - he's rich and famous, so I'm sure women are throwing themselves at him.  (though I thought he was a gay).

[Gustaf]

I realize why people are screaming conspiracy, but I must admit that I kind of doubt it. The women could be agent provocateurs I suppose, but it seems a bit far-fetched, doesn't it? The police certainly wouldn't be taking him in on nothing, I don't think.

It doesn't sound far-fetched.  You realize that the US government and its representatives have almost unlimited resourced in money and manpower?

And the timing doesn't really strike me as odd. He is famous and abroad, it's the perfect time to rape someone.

Its rather an absurd idea - he's rich and famous, so I'm sure women are throwing themselves at him.  (though I thought he was a gay).

It's clueless, bigoted old misogynists like you who make it so easy for men to get away with rape. It's not about getting sex and even if it was, not every woman is a whore.

[Lunar]

Rich and famous? Lol

[Gustaf]

Rich and famous? Lol

Yeah, but I didn't feel like contesting that part.

[Earth]

It looks like he pissed someone off a little too much.

[opebo]

It's not about getting sex and even if it was, not every woman is a whore.

Ok, the first part of your statement is a profound and baseless assumption (admittedly a nonsense believed by many), and the second part has no relevance.

[Gustaf]

Update: rumours, which may be completely unfounded, have it that he, erm, ejaculated inside her despite having agreed to not to originally. I'm not sure if that's both cases or only one of them though.