If there were no valid charges against him the US couldn't be seeking extradition That isn't how extradition works (The article says there are in fact 18 charges the US would like to see him face). Before extraditing someone you need a treaty that says we recognise your laws and what crime they committed generally has to exist in both countries for extradition to be sought.
He didn't step foot in the US is a bad faith argument. Plenty of online crimes happen when people are different countries, do you think online scams shouldn't be prosecuted because the perps are overseas? He interacted with people in the US and is accused of causing things to happen there giving the US jurisdiction.
Julian Assange has draped him self in the journalistic flag to pretend what he did was journalism and claim his behaviour is above approach. You might believe that, I don't, and guess what, I get to have my opinion as much as you get to have yours; I specifically said while a court must assume his innocents i don't have to, I see him pick and choose evidence to craft a one sided story then to flee to a foreign embassy to avoid having to see consequences for his actions and I judge him off that, you get to disagree and that is fine.
The US isn't desperate to get access to him; if it were they'd have already secured access to him. The US is following the process to prosecute what they believe are crimes that he has committed. I'd be surprised if basically anyone in the US outside of this actually is paying any attention. This is an argument to obscure the topic which is about the actions of Julian Assange. I'm a fan of the if you fuck round you need to find out school of view. And I don't think anyone doesn't think Julian didn't fuck round (And we've ignored the two cases of rape that he was first charged with)
Little bits of evidence do add up and intelligence leaks that are connected to foreign adversaries who are currently engaged in an invasion of their neighbours are not parking fines but big red warning signs that mean action needs to be taken.
I'm not saying he should be locked up because he's guilty (though i do personally believe from what i've seen he probably he is guilty, I'm clearly stating my biases) I'm saying there is a good case against him and I see no reason why he shouldn't stand trial for his actions. A court with a jury will be able to look at the evidence and make a judgement.
To be unpopular, I don't feel particularly sorry for Julian. He didn't just "report" on the wikileaks, he helped induce them and then he picked which items to release for maximum damage. Other allegations are that he worked with Russians to do this, now if there is evidence of this, he deserves to see trial. If there isn't then I'm sure he'll be able to make a solid case in his defence. (Now a court must view someone innocent till proven guilty, but I don't have to and I'll take him running into a foreign embassy to avoid trial a good indication that he's guilty and he knows he's guilty. )
If he wants a trial here I think that would be fine and I don't think many would have any objections, but he should have to defend his actions against what amount to some of the most serious accusations that can be levelled against people.
Edit: grammar and spelling