Assange Extradition Case moves forward after US assures UK court there would be no death penalty

The U.S. provided assurances requested by the British High Court in London that could allow WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to be extradited from the U.K. to the U.S. to face espionage charges.

The High Court ruled last month that if the U.S. failed to provide assurances, Assange would be allowed to make an appeal challenging his extradition over WikiLeaks' publication of classified U.S. military documents 14 years ago.

Lawyers for the U.S. were asked to provide assurances that Assange could seek a First Amendment right to free speech during a trial in the U.S. and that the Australian publisher would not face new charges which could result in him being sentenced to the death penalty. 

These guarantees were submitted by Tuesday's deadline, setting up a May 20 hearing in front of the British court to determine if Assange can be extradited. If the court rules in favor of extradition, Assange's only remaining option would be at the European Court of Human Rights.

According to the document filed by the U.S., Assange, 52, "will have the ability to raise and seek to rely upon at trial the rights and protections given under the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States." But, the document admits, a decision on the "applicability of the First Amendment is exclusively within the purview of the U.S. courts."

The document, which was reviewed by Fox News Digital, also alleges that the death penalty will not be sought or imposed.

"These assurances are binding on any and all present or subsequent individuals to whom authority has been delegated to decide the matters," the document read.

Lawyers for Assange have previously described any assurances as meaningless, saying they do not believe they can rely on those guarantees if their client does face extradition.

Assange faces 17 counts under the Espionage Act for allegedly receiving, possessing and communicating classified information to the public, as well as one charge alleging conspiracy to commit computer intrusion. If extradited, Assange would stand trial in Alexandria, Virginia, and could face up to 175 years in a maximum security prison if convicted.