U.S. Brings New Charges Against Julian Assange In War Logs, State Cables Case

Prosecutors are bringing a slate of new charges against Julian Assange, including an alleged violation of the Espionage Act, raising the stakes for his prospective extradition from the United Kingdom.

A grand jury in Northern Virginia has returned a superseding indictment with 17 more charges against the WikiLeaks founder that follow an earlier case brought against Assange in connection with the alleged help he gave to Chelsea Manning to compromise U.S. government computer networks.

Assange is being charged for his "alleged complicity in illegal acts" involving Manning and "for agreeing and attempting to obtain" information that compromised national security, officials say.

Manning provided Assange with war logs, State Department cables, assessments of Guantanamo detainees and other materials.