"We're considering it," Biden said in response to a question about Australia's request that he end the US government’s prosecution of Assange.
Commenting on the development, Assange's lawyer Barry Pollack told Sputnik he found Biden's statement encouraging.
"It is encouraging that President Biden has confirmed that the United States is considering dropping its case against Julian Assange," Pollack said. "This unprecedented prosecution of someone for publishing truthful and newsworthy information should never have been brought. It is time to end the matter and allow Mr. Assange to return to Australia."
Last month, the United Kingdom’s High Court of Justice in London further delayed the prospects of extraditing Assange to the United States, ruling that he has a real prospect of success on three of the nine grounds of appeal.
The High Court asked the US government to provide assurances that the WikiLeaks founder would be able to claim the First Amendment of the US Constitution, which guarantees the right to free speech, press, religion, assembly and to petition the government for redress of grievances.
The High Court also asked the US government to ensure that Assange would not be prejudiced at his trial due to his nationality and that he would not face the death penalty.
The next hearing is scheduled for May 20 if the parties submit the necessary documents.
Assange has been detained in the Belmarsh prison in London, arguably the harshest detention facility in the United Kingdom. The US government seeks Assange for publishing on WikiLeaks acquired video and textual information on its activities in various wars, which may be construed as violations of international law and engagement in war crimes, among others.