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In reply to the discussion: Vivienne Westwood uses London Fashion Week to declare support for Assange [View all]reorg
(3,317 posts)keeping in mind certain goal posts you don't want to see moved.
"The last step before charges and arrest is an interview where the prosecutor lays out his case to the accused."
False.
1. Arrest has nothing to do with the interview.
2. Charges can and will be brought if the prosecutor thinks he has a case. There is no "last step".
3. The interview must take place because the prosecutor has the duty to inform the accused of the allegations (every step of the way, BTW, which she didn't do in this case).
"This interview was not to hear what Assange had to say."
False. The interview must take place in order to hear what Assange has to say. The prosecutor has the duty to gather all evidence, including what might exonerate the accused.
"It was the last formal step before his arrest"
We already mentioned it: the interview has nothing to do with a possible detention order.
"which is why he ran."
You can say that until you are blue in the face, but even if Assange did not particularly look forward to that interview, there were certainly more, and much more important reasons for him to go to London at that point. We all know that he had major releases to prepare amidst all kinds of attacks against his organisation. And he had been informed that he could leave the country, meaning the prosecutor did not think they had a strong case. Which they didn't, of course, as we all know from the evidence that is available to everyone, or lack thereof.