WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is one step closer to being extradited to Sweden after a British judge on Wednesday rejected his claims that it would be unfair and unlawful to send him back to Scandinavia.
However, he may still attempt to appeal the decision to Britain's Supreme Court.
Assange, 40, stands accused of raping one woman and molesting another in Stockholm last year -- allegations he said are politically motivated.
Assange has rejected the allegations against him and claims they were orchestrated by people trying to bring down his organization, which has published thousands of secret government documents online.
His defence team fought the extradition on several factors.
Assange has maintained all along that the sex in Stockholm was consensual and his lawyer Ben Emmerson has said if the alleged events had occurred in England, they would not be considered criminal.
Lawyers also argued that Swedish prosecutors' decision to pursue Assange's extradition was disproportionate to the crimes he is accused of.
However, British High Court judges John Thomas and Duncan Ousely ruled Wednesday the extradition is legitimate and certain inconsistencies in the allegations against Assange didn't affect the extradition request.
"There can be no doubt that if what Mr. Assange had done had been done in England and Wales, he would have been charged," the ruling said.
Among those inconsistencies is the fact one of Assange's accusers initially claimed Assange had unprotected sex with her while she was asleep. However, she later said she may have been partially awake.
"These are matters of evidence which would be highly relevant at trial," the judges said in their ruling. But "it is not for this court to assess whether the allegations may fail."
Assange has 14 days to decide whether he will file an appeal against the ruling to Britain's Supreme Court. However, any attempt at a further appeal would first have to be approved by an appeals court before it could proceed to the Supreme Court.
In the meantime, Assange is allowed to remain on bail and can continue to stay in the country estate owned by wealthy supporter Vaughan Smith where he has been residing in recent months.
