Swedish prosecutors on Friday offered to question WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange about two women's sexual assault allegations in London, a potential breakthrough in the five-year case, officials told the Associated Press.
Assange has lived at the Ecuadorean embassy in London for nearly three years. If he steps outside, he would likely be extradited back to Sweden to face questioning in the allegations.
Before Friday, the prosecutors refused to travel to London to conduct an interview. They made the offer because the statute of limitations for potentially charging Assange with the crimes will expire in August.
"My view has always been that to perform an interview with him at the Ecuadorean embassy in London would lower the quality of the interview, and that he would need to be present in Sweden in any case should there be a trial in the future," lead prosecutor Marianne Ny said in a statement. But, she added, "time is of the essence."
Prosecutors would also take a DNA sample from Assange.
Assange hasn't been formally charged, but he is wanted for questioning after two women accused him of rape involving in Sweden in 2010. He has denied the allegations.
As the AP reported:
One of Assange's defense lawyers, Per Samuelson, welcomed the move and said Assange would likely accept the offer. He said he had spoken to Assange early Friday.
"This is something we've demanded for over four years," Samuelson told The Associated Press. "Julian Assange wants to be interviewed so he can be exonerated." ...
Assange has been at the Ecuadorean embassy since June 19, 2012.