ISSUES: Assange Sex Case Looks 'Less Flawed' Than Thought!

The New York Times has now gotten its own look at the sexual allegations against Julian Assange—the Guardian got a more complete look at the leaked police report first—and comes to this carefully hedged conclusion: The report, along with interviews the Times conducted, "suggest that the Swedish case could be less flawed than Mr. Assange’s supporters have claimed." The 68-page document details Assange's separate encounters with "Ms. W and Ms. A" over several days in August, filling in details of their allegations that sex with Assange began consensually but that he defied their wishes to use a condom.

One woman told police that after Assange pulled her clothes off, she "tried to put on some articles of clothing as it was going too quickly and uncomfortably but Assange ripped them off again." She said Assange held her arms and pinned her legs and prevented her from reaching for a condom. He eventually agreed to use one, but she said he had "done something" to it that caused it to tear, and they had unprotected sex. As has been previously reported, the second woman says she woke to Assange having unprotected sex with her. The Times notes a potential positive for Assange: the report shows that both women continued their relationships with him after the encounters, a fact that his supporters have used to buttress their case that the charges are trumped up. The women say they went to police only after talking to each other and realizing they had similar experiences—and when Assange refused their request to get tested for STDs.