I stumbled upon this article recently: https://www.theguardian.com/media/2023/apr/11/julian-assange-australian-politicians-urge-merrick-garland-united-states-us-attorney-general-to-abandon-extradition

U.S. government has had a target on his head for years for disseminating the truth. They will make an example of him to send a warning to the rest.