Rape victims had hidden agenda, Julian Assange’s lawyer

LONDON - There are “hidden agendas” in the rape claims made against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange by two women in Stockholm, his lawyer has said.

Bjrn Hurtig, who is representing Assange in Sweden, said he has seen secret police documents that reveal Assange is innocent of rape claims, Daily Mail reported Sunday.

Hurtig said the papers that are part of the official Swedish investigation show both women had “hidden agendas” and lied about being coerced into having sex with Assange.

The WikiLeaks founder is being held in Wandsworth jail in London. He had met both women at a seminar in Stockholm last August.

“From what I have read, it is clear that the women are lying and that they had an agenda when they went to the police, which had nothing to do with a crime having taken place.

“It was, I believe, more about jealousy and disappointment on their part. I can prove that at least one of them had very big expectations for something to happen with Julian,” Hurtig was quoted as saying.

He added: “If I am able to reveal what I know, everyone will realise this is all a charade… If I could tell the British courts, I suspect it would make extradition a moot point.”

“But at the moment I’m bound by the rules of the Swedish legal system, which say that the information can only be used as evidence in this country. For me to do otherwise would lead to me being disbarred.”

Hurtig said that when he met Assange, he was “struck by how good-looking he was. He gave off an aura of someone who was very self-assured and comfortable with himself - the way famous people do”.

“He denied vehemently that he had raped or in any way indulged in non-consensual sex. He was very upset. He kept saying, `How can they do this to me? I’ve done nothing wrong. They are trying to destroy my credibility’. He kept saying it was a witch-hunt and we must fight it.”

A 30-year-old woman, described as Miss A, claims she was unlawfully coerced and subjected to sexual molestation and deliberate molestation.

The second woman, referred to as Miss B, has alleged he had sex with her without a condom while she was sleeping.

Assange told Hurtig he had a brief affair with Miss A.

Miss B has told the police that she sought out Assange after seeing him on TV. They had a “sexual encounter” in a cinema on their first meeting and two days later had protected sex at her flat.

The woman told that police that she woke up next morning to find him having sex with her without a condom.

Hurtig said: “This is what they are saying is rape.”

The lawyer added: “I don’t believe Miss B felt she had been raped until she went to the police station. She was encouraged by a policewoman and a junior female prosecutor to think that way. While I don’t think there was any conspiracy, Julian says he is being victimised because of his role with WikiLeaks. The fact that he has a high profile has made him a target for opponents.”