WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange's attorney has denied "outrageous" allegations made by Ecuador that her client was an ill-mannered houseguest who was dirty and smeared feces over their London embassy's walls. Australian human rights lawyer Jennifer Robinson on Sunday condemned allegations that Assange behaved grossly during his time as a houseguest at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London and claimed they were invented to justify the decision to allow United Kingdom authorities to arrest the WikiLeaks founder on Thursday. "The first thing to say is Ecuador has been making some outrageous allegations. It's a difficult situation," Robinson told Sky News. "Ecuador has made these allegations to justify the unlawful and extraordinary act of letting police come inside an embassy." She added: "I've been visiting him for the last seven years. This man has been inside a room with no outside access. Inside the embassy it's become more difficult. The politics changed when Ecuador's political situation changed with a new leader. He stayed inside the embassy for so long because of a real and legitimate fear of U.S. extradition, which, as we saw on Thursday, proved to be justifiable fears." Robinson also highlighted comments from U.K. Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, who expressed his belief that Britain shouldn't extradite Assange to the United States, where he faces "conspiracy to commit computer intrusion" charges over documents he released through WikiLeaks in 2010. "It is right and correct for Jeremy Corbyn to say what he said," the attorney said, noting that Assange was performing acts of journalism by publishing the confidential U.S. documents. Ecuador President Lenín Moreno, who withdrew asylum status for Assange last, Thursday, leading to his arrest, said the WikiLeaks founder was a "spoiled brat" and a "thorn." "You can't arrive at a house that welcomes you warmly, that gives you food, and takes care of you, and start to denounce the owner of the house. We've removed the asylum for this spoiled brat, and, fortunately, we've gotten rid of a thorn in our side," Moreno said. "From now on, we'll be more careful in giving asylum to people who are really worth it and not miserable hackers whose only goal is to destabilize governments," he added. Last week, Ecuador's interior minister, María Paula Romo, echoed Moreno's statements, saying Assange was physically harassing those that looked after him in the embassy and had been smearing his feces on walls inside the building. Ecuador also claimed Assange was bad at flushing the toilet, left used underwear in the bathroom and did not clean up after he had meals, among other things. Before his arrest last Thursday, Assange had been residing inside the small Ecuadorian embassy for almost seven years after arriving in June 2012. According to The Guardian, the nation accommodated Assange by converting an office into a bedroom and allowing him access to a shared bathroom and kitchen. In 2010, Assange avoided extradition to Sweden, where two women had accused him of rape and sexual assault. At the time, he dismissed the allegations as an extradition attempt by the U.S. over his publishing of classified documents on WikiLeaks. "This was and is not about avoiding facing Swedish justice," Robinson said. "It is about avoiding U.S. injustice. He has cooperated with the Swedish investigation. Swedish prosecutors came into the embassy to hear his testimony. After that, they closed the case." While Swedish authorities dropped the sexual assault allegations in 2017, British police were still seeking to hold Assange for failing to surrender after a warrant was issued in 2012. The Westminster Magistrates' Court last Thursday found Assange guilty of breaching his bail conditions. He will be sentenced at a later date. Robinson did not immediately respond to Newsweek's request for comment.<doc-sep>A lawyer representing jailed WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange says the Ecuadorian government has been spreading lies about his behavior inside its embassy in London. Jennifer Robinson told Sky News on Sunday that Ecuador is making "pretty outrageous allegations" to justify allowing British police into its embassy Thursday in order to take Assange into custody. Ecuadorian President Lenin Moreno withdrew Assange's political asylum this week, opening the way for his seizure by British police. Robinson says Assange has had "a very difficult time" since Moreno came to power in 2017. Assange is jailed in Britain for jumping bail and faces an extradition request from the United States for conspiracy. Sweden also is considering reviving a rape investigation of him. His next court appearance is May 2 via video link.<doc-sep>Article content LONDON — A lawyer representing jailed WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange says the Ecuadorian government has been spreading lies about his behaviour inside its embassy in London. Jennifer Robinson told Sky News on Sunday that Ecuador is making “pretty outrageous allegations” to justify allowing British police into its embassy Thursday in order to take Assange into custody. We apologize, but this video has failed to load. tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or 'OUTRAGEOUS ALLEGATIONS': WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange's lawyer says Ecuador spreading lies Back to video Photo by Alastair Grant / Photo/) ORG XMIT: T Ecuadorian President Lenin Moreno withdrew Assange’s political asylum this week, opening the way for his seizure by British police. We apologize, but this video has failed to load. tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Robinson says Assange has had “a very difficult time” since Moreno came to power in 2017. Assange is jailed in Britain for jumping bail and faces an extradition request from the United States for conspiracy. Sweden also is considering reviving a rape investigation of him. His next court appearance is May 2 via video link.<doc-sep>But prosecution in the United States might not be his only worry — or, ultimately, the most pressing. Assange first fled to the safety of the Ecuadoran Embassy not to escape the reach of the United States, but because of law enforcement moves by Sweden, where Assange had been accused of sexual offenses during a visit to the country two years before.<doc-sep>
LONDON (AP) — A lawyer representing WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange alleged Sunday that Ecuador's government has spread lies about his behavior inside its embassy in London, where Assange sought asylum in 2012. The Latin American country has claimed Assange actions deteriorated before his arrest Thursday and included putting excrement on walls, leaving soiled laundry in the bathroom, and not properly looking after his cat. Lawyer Jennifer Robinson told British TV network Sky News the Ecuadorian government is spreading alleged falsehoods to divert attention from its decision to revoke his asylum and allow his arrest at its British embassy, "I think the first thing to say is Ecuador has been making some pretty outrageous allegations over the past few days to justify what was an unlawful and extraordinary act in allowing British police to come inside an embassy," Robinson said. Ecuadorian President Lenin Moreno ended Assange's protected status after more than 6½ years and opened the way for his arrest there Thursday. Moreno said Assange abused Ecuador's goodwill, mistreated embassy staff and used his perch to try to interfere in other country's political affairs. Assange has had "a very difficult time" since Moreno took office in Ecuador in 2017, Robinson said. Assange, who appeared much older when he emerged from the embassy than when before he sought refuge there in August 2012, is in custody at Belmarsh Prison in southeast London awaiting sentencing in Britain for skipping bail to avoid being sent to Sweden as part of an investigation of a rape allegation. Sweden is considering reviving the investigation. The United States also is seeking his extradition after charging him with conspiring to break into a Pentagon computer system, which could lead to competing extradition demands. U.K. Home Secretary Sajid Javid would be expected to have the final say in which claim takes priority. More than 70 British legislators have urged Javid to give priority to a case involving rape allegations ahead of the U.S. request. Story continues He would not be expected to enter a plea to the Department of Justice case unless he loses his extradition case and is brought to a courtroom in the United States. Assange has denied the rape allegation, asserting the sex was consensual. He also has not formally responded to the U.S. conspiracy charge. His indictment was made public hours after his Thursday arrest, but Assange's lawyers say he is a legitimate journalist whose prosecution would have a chilling effect. The extradition court in Britain will not be judging the evidence against him, but will evaluate whether the crime he is accused of would be a crime in Britain. Assange's next court appearance is scheduled for May 2. In the meantime, he is expected to seek prison medical care for severe shoulder pain and dental problems, WikiLeaks has said.