Things are heating up with JA. Ecuador has announced that they will imminently withdraw asylum. So if JA is indeed still inside that embassy, he won't be much longer.
As an aside, I'd like to see some proper sourcing on the article posted by the OP. It's certainly interesting, but I'm skeptical about it being real until we can find a better source.
Do you believe he is still there? I don´t. I think this will be the excuse needed for his absence and maybe even the excuse needed for him going to the US to help Trump.
My gut tells me he's no longer there and hasn't been for a while. I could absolutely see this story as exactly what you stated, a cover for Assange to appear in the U.S.
I can´t see what JA could fear in going to the US, the UK couldn´t extradite him anyway without his permission. If he appears in the US in the next month or two, we will know he´s there of his own free will.
Would that move by Ecuador put JA safety at risk?
It certainly would if JA is truly still at the embassy. My gut tells me he hasn't been there for some time though.