The kidnap operation reportedly included plans for a potential gun battle on the streets of London.
Separately, it was reported that the CIA had also bugged the embassy while Assange was there through a Spanish firm hired by Ecuador to provide security. This was apparently done without Ecuador's knowledge.
Such an operation violated Ecuador's territorial sovereignty. But worse, by listening in to Assange's privileged conversations with his lawyers, as he prepared for the highly politicised extradition battle he knew was coming, the CIA polluted the legality of that very process.
In fact, a strong argument can be made that the UK courts should have thrown out the extradition case on those grounds alone.
And yet despite all this, the English High Court ruled on Friday that it was satisfied with "assurances" that Assange's well being would be protected were he extradited to the US.
British judges may be persuaded by those assurances. Many others, including Assange, will not be.
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