An attorney for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange accused the Trump administration of extortion in a London court on Monday.

The WikiLeaks attorney appeared at Woolwich Crown Court along with U.S. prosecutors, who argued that Assange should be extradited the United States, where he faces 18 charges and up to 175 years in jail.

Attorneys for Assange previously told the court that former Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) tried to broker a pardon deal between the White House and Assange if he would agree to say that Russia was not the source of hacked Democratic Party emails.

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Defense attorney Edwards Fitzgerald said on Monday that Rohrabacher had called the pardon offer a “win-win.”

But when the pardon fell through, the Trump administration tried to extort Assange with a political prosecution, according to the attorney.

Read some of the reports from the courtroom below.

Assange QC notes that Mr Rohrabacher has denied saying he was acting on President Trump’s behalf when offering a pardon in exchange for identifying the source of the 2016 DNC leaks. — Ben Lewis (@benlewismedia) February 24, 2020

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Edward Fitzgerald on alleged pardon offer to Assange and President Trumps denial of it “well he would say that wouldn’t he.” — Samantha Hawley (@samanthahawley) February 24, 2020

#Assange court is told US congressman Dana Rohrabacher and Charles Johnson discussed a ‘pre-emptive’ pardon in exchange today ‘personal assistance’ to President Trump in August 2017…. if Assange revealed source of DNC leak/hack. — Hugh Whitfeld (@hughwhitfeld) February 24, 2020

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Why is this all important? Assange’s legal team will argue this is a political prosecution, not driven by justice, so extradition should not go ahead. — Ben Lewis (@benlewismedia) February 24, 2020

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Assange lawyer expanding on claims US Repub congressman offered Trump pardon in exchange for saying Russia not involved in leaking DNC emails

Dana Rohrabacher said to have described it as “win win” situation.. Assange could get out of Ecuadorian embassy and get on with life” — Ben Quinn (@BenQuinn75) February 24, 2020

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