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France could offer Julian Assange political asylum

France’s government might consider offering Julian Assange political asylum — but he’ll have to ask first.

The country’s secretary of state for European affairs, Amelie de Montchalin, told local radio Friday that “we should listen to what he wants to do” but added, “We don’t offer asylum to someone who’s not asking for it.”

The WikiLeaks founder’s French lawyer, Juan Branco, has appealed to President Emmanuel Macron to spring Assange from jail in London and bring him to France so he can avoid extradition to the United States.

Branco also noted that Assange has a young child in France.

Assange was arrested Thursday in London after losing his political asylum at the Ecuadorian embassy, and is now facing US charges for allegedly trying to help Chelsea Manning hack into a government computer.

With Post wires

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