Sweden Reopens Rape Case Against Julian Assange – The New York Times

“This decision has been left entirely to the British authorities. The outcome of this process is impossible to predict,” she said, but added that the Swedish investigation could continue concurrently with the British process.

The United States’ request to extradite Mr. Assange is being handled by the British courts, but his fate could ultimately lie with Sajid Javid, Britain’s home secretary.

In the case of multiple extradition requests for one individual, the home secretary may defer proceedings on one of the requests until the other has been completed, after taking into account several issues, according to a document published by the British Home Office last month: the seriousness of the offenses, the place where they were committed, and the date when each extradition request was filed are among the factors he would have consider.

Assuming Sweden submits a European arrest warrant, its claim would most likely take precedence, said Michael O’Kane, a British extradition lawyer.

“Arguably the rape allegation is more serious,” Mr. O’Kane said. In addition, although the American extradition request would technically precede a new filing from Sweden, prosecutors there initially requested that he be turned over long before the Americans did.

The arrest warrant and extradition requests will first proceed through the British court system, a process that could take six months to a year, and both requests will probably move together in parallel through the British courts. The United States could challenge a prioritized extradition to Sweden, although Mr. O’Kane said that was unlikely.

One of Mr. Assange’s accusers in Sweden has publicly identified herself, and the woman, Anna Ardin, told the Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet that Mr. Assange was “a man who has a twisted attitude toward women and a problem taking no for an answer.”