WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been denied bail following his arrest in London on an international warrant to face sexual crime allegations in Sweden. Assange will remain in custody until at least December 14, when a British court will take up a Swedish request for extradition. Assange has not been charged with a crime but is wanted for questioning on allegations of unlawful sexual contact with two women. Assange has maintained his innocence and called the case a political witch-hunt that has intensified with WikiLeaks’ release of secret U.S. diplomatic cables. The refusal to grant him bail came as more pressure was brought on companies to sever their ties with WikiLeaks. International credit card companies MasterCard and Visa have now suspended the payment of donations to the website. Assange’s attorney, Mark Stephens, said he has yet to see any of the evidence against his client.

Mark Stephens: “We have heard the judge today say that he wishes to see the evidence himself. I think he was impressed by the fact that a number of people were prepared to stand up on behalf of Mr. Assange and proffer his innocence. In those circumstances, I think we will see another bail application, and they were but the tip of an iceberg. This is going to go viral. Many people will come forward to stand sureties for Mr. Assange. Many people believe Mr. Assange to be innocent, myself included. And many people believe that this prosecution is politically motivated.”

The New York Times is reporting the U.S. Department of Justice is considering ways to indict Julian Assange beyond the Espionage Act. Other possible offenses under consideration include conspiracy or trafficking in stolen property.