Julian Assange's friend says he's afraid of getting beaten up in prison

Julian Assange after his arrest Thursday in London.
(Image credit: Getty Images)

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is afraid of what might await him in an American prison, a friend told ABC News on Thursday.

After spending almost seven years living in Ecuador's embassy in London, Assange was arrested Thursday after Ecuador withdrew his asylum. The U.S. Justice Department has charged him with conspiracy to commit computer intrusion and requested he be extradited. If found guilty, he could receive five years in prison.

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Catherine Garcia, The Week US

Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.