[fixermark]

Problem is, Trump says a lot of things that he doesn't mean. Or he forgets, it's a little unclear.

But the American intelligence community appears very interested in the guy and is known to have been working on extradition process in 2018.

If the American intelligence community wants to extradite Assange, I don't doubt somebody high-ranking in the CIA will sit down with the president and by the end of the meeting, have him thoroughly convinced that he's wanted Assange's extradition all along. They have agents trained in psychological operations and negotiation, and Trump is demonstrably an easy mark.

[lolc]

I'm not clear why the U.S. president should be in the loop here anyway. Who makes the decision to prosecute in such cases?

[danso]

Federal attorneys are appointed by the President, and can also be fired by the President at his discretion.

[dao-]

> Problem is, Trump says a lot of things that he doesn't mean. Or he forgets, it's a little unclear.

Unlikely, as it could play a big role in the whole ongoing public debate about the Trump-Russia connection.

> But the American intelligence community appears very interested in the guy and is known to have been working on extradition process in 2018.

Yep, but "Trump administration" seems to suggest that Trump is directing this, which seems comical to me.