Wait, hang on. Thousands of people have downloaded an encrypted file with more stuffs in it, but no-one can yet open it, because the decryption key hasn't been found, right?

Does this remind anyone of anything that happened recently?

It's not that it hasn't been found, it hasn't been released. The encryption is effectively unbreakable, and people at Wikileaks have the key to release as and when they wish.

But no charges have been filed.

Assange's lawyer, renowned British advocate Mark Stephens, told CBS News Thursday that prosecutor Marianne Ny is staging a "show trial," in reference to the politically motivated prosecutions of the Stalin-era Soviet Union.

Stephens said not only have formal charges not been filed against Assange, but the prosecution has failed to provide him with any documentation relating to the investigation. As a result, he says it's impossible for him to begin crafting a defense.

According to his lawyer:

A US colonel was recently convicted of "unauthorized disclosure of classified information" which might be roughly parallel, and eneded up with 10 months house arrest.

The article dates that quote as yesterday, so he was most certainly arrested at that point. I can't really tell from the sources available.

True! So Assange isn't even as guilty as a guy who got 10 months house arrest, assuming he's guilty at all! He should probably just go to the US and let them charge him - I'd be astounded if they could get anything to stick.

If that's the case, what the fuck was the judge doing remanding him in custody when there's no valid EAW and therefore no basis for an extradition hearing?

Running around trying to work out how quadri-partite internation law works, I suspect.

He should probably just go to the US and let them charge him

Here's a list of three things that you are unlikely to do, at least in this order:

1. Watch a Swedish movie called The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
2. Read about the Swedish sex charges against Julian Assange
3. Book a vacation to Sweden

I am always amused by the strange impact of unintended consequences. Julian Assange simply wanted to release some embarrassing information, have hot sex with a Swedish babe then have hot sex with an acquaintance of that same babe one day later. That's just one example of why the Swedish language has 400 words that all mean "and your cute friend is next."

But things didn't turn out as Assange hoped. The unintended consequence of his actions is that he managed to make Sweden look like a country that's governed by congenital idiots and populated with nothing but crazy sluts and lawyers. And don't get me started about the quality of their condoms.

To be fair, I don't know if Assange's alleged broken condom is because the product was defective. We have good evidence that Assange has the world's biggest set of nuts, so assuming some degree of proportionality, he'd put a strain on any brand of condom that didn't have rebar ribs.

Assange had a lot of help making Sweden look like the last place on Earth that you would want to take your penis. The aforementioned megahit movie, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, makes the place look like a snow-filled ass cave that Jeffrey Dahmer lived in before he got a raise. (It's a good movie otherwise.)

If you haven't read any background about the so-called rape charges against Assange, you really should. Apparently Swedish laws are unique. If you have a penis, you're half a rapist before you even get through customs. And if your condom breaks, that's jail time. What I'm saying is that the Club Med in Sweden is a nervous place.

I was having a hard time making up my mind about Assange. On one hand, he might be hurting the interests of my country and putting people in danger. Death to him! On the other hand, a little extra government transparency might prevent more problems than it causes. Hero! It was a toss-up. Then Sweden turned Assange from a man-whore publicity hound into Gandhi. Advantage: Assange.

The one thing I know for sure is that I'm a fan of the hackers who are dispensing vigilante justice. Here's another unintended consequence: The hackers could end up organizing over this issue and ultimately forming a shadow government of their own, if they haven't already. I welcome my hacker overlords.

Prediction: The governments of the world can't let Assange become a martyr. He would be too powerful. They'll pressure Sweden to release him on some sort of technicality.

We have good evidence that Assange has the world's biggest set of nuts, so assuming some degree of proportionality, he'd put a strain on any brand of condom that didn't have rebar ribs

But he's not being extradited.

Ah right - so they asked him to go voluntarily to save bothering with a hearing. Gotcha.

Yup. As if anyone ever says "yeah, ok".

So if he hasn't been charged with anything in the UK, does that mean if the extradition request is rejected, he's free to go?

Fit Sarah Beeny?

Don't shag her mate the next day then.

her mate

Wise words for all Beexers currently living in Sweden, there.

"show trial," in reference to the politically motivated prosecutions of the Stalin-era Soviet Union.

Remember, a first year uni student would be born in 1992

Remember, a first year uni student would be born in 1992

Fuck sake.

Remember, a first year uni student would be born in 1992