Julian Assange considering offer to appear before US Senate committee

LONDON: WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who has been holed up in Ecuador`s London embassy for six years, is considering an offer to appear before the US Senate Intelligence Committee to discuss alleged Russian interference in the 2016 US election, his lawyer said on Thursday.

"The US Senate Select Committee request confirms their interest in hearing from Assange," lawyer Jennifer Robinson said in a statement. 

"The inquiry has asked for him to appear in person at a mutually agreeable time and place. We are seriously considering the offer but must ensure Assange’s protection is guaranteed."

On Wednesday, WikiLeaks published a letter which it said was from the committee, asking Assange to make himself available to appear for a closed interview.

Assange has been living in the embassy since he was granted asylum in 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden to face questions about allegations of sex crimes, accusations that were later dropped.

However, he would be arrested by British police for breaching bail conditions should he leave the building and he has always said he fears being extradited to the United States for having published a huge cache of U.S. diplomatic and military secrets on the WikiLeaks website.