>Are there other examples of suspects being granted asylum by a foreign government?

I don't know if that matters very much. Unlike most fugitives, DOJ knew exactly where Assange is and that he'd have to come out eventually.

>It seems just as reasonable that DOJ needed to wait until Ecuador had dropped asylum and given the green light.

But DOJ didn't wait until Ecuador dropped the asylum.

>It seems like a stretch to say that the timing alone proves this is politically motivated when there were extenuating circumstances preventing the indictment

There was nothing preventing the indictment, there were circumstances that would prevent unsealing the indictment.