Watch CBS News

Sweden Drops Rape Investigation Into Wikileaks Founder Julian Assange

Follow CBSMIAMI.COM: Facebook | Twitter

MIAMI (CBSMiami) - After seven years, prosecutors in Sweden have dropped their rape investigation into Wikileaks founder Julian Assange.

Assange's law called it a day of victory.

"He's an innocent man and the case has been closed. That's the true reason in my firm opinion and the prosecution is merely trying to save their faces," said Per E. Samuelson.

Assange took refuge in Ecuador's embassy in London in 2012 to escape extradition to Sweden to answer questions about sex crime allegations made by two women.

Despite the dropping of the investigation, Assange is not a free man yet.

British police say Assange still faces arrest if he leaves the embassy for skipping bail in 2012 to avoid being sent to Sweden.

Assange took refuge in the embassy because he feared if he went to Sweden, U.S. authorities would extradite him to face charges for publishing tens of thousands of classified documents on his Wikileaks site.

Assange took to Twitter to tell followers that he was 'detained' for seven years without charge while his children grew up and his name was slandered. He added that he does not forgive or forget.

Sweden's top prosecutor says there's no possibility of arresting Assange "in the foreseeable future," but the case could be re-opened if he returns to Sweden before the statute of limitations expires in 2020.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.