Assange to Plead Guilty to Espionage Charge and Return to Australia After Long Fight Against US Extradition
Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, has been released from a UK prison and is returning to his home country, Australia, after reaching a plea deal with the United States. Assange, 52, has agreed to plead guilty to a single charge of breaching US espionage laws, concluding a protracted legal battle over his extradition.
According to a filing in the US District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands, Assange will plead guilty to conspiring to obtain and disclose classified US national defense documents.
He was released from Belmarsh high-security prison on Monday and immediately flew out of the country. Assange will appear in a court in Saipan, a US Pacific territory, on Wednesday at 9 AM local time (Tuesday, 23:00 GMT), where he will be sentenced to 62 months, which he has already served.
“Julian Assange is free,” WikiLeaks announced in a statement on X (formerly Twitter). The statement detailed that Assange left Belmarsh maximum-security prison on the morning of June 24 after 1,901 days in detention. He was granted bail by the High Court in London and boarded a plane at Stansted airport in the afternoon.
“Julian is free!!!!” his wife Stella celebrated on X. “Words cannot express our immense gratitude to YOU – yes, YOU, who have all mobilized for years to make this come true. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.”
The Rise and Struggles of WikiLeaks
Julian Assange gained international attention with the launch of WikiLeaks in 2006, an online platform for whistleblowers to anonymously submit classified documents and videos. WikiLeaks’ publication of a US Apache helicopter attack in Baghdad that killed a dozen people, including two journalists, significantly boosted its profile. The 2010 release of hundreds of thousands of classified US documents on the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as a trove of diplomatic cables, cemented its reputation.
Legal Troubles and Imprisonment
Assange's legal troubles began in 2010 with his arrest in London on a Swedish warrant for sexual assault. After being granted bail, he sought refuge in Ecuador's London embassy in 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden. He remained there for seven years, during which Swedish authorities eventually dropped the charges. In 2019, UK police arrested him for breaching his bail conditions, leading to his incarceration as the US sought his extradition.
The US Charges and Plea Deal
The US government charged Assange in 2019 with 17 counts of breaching the Espionage Act, accusing him of conspiring with Chelsea Manning, a former army intelligence analyst who leaked material to WikiLeaks. The charges drew widespread condemnation from press freedom advocates and Assange supporters, who argued that prosecuting Assange under the Espionage Act posed a significant threat to free speech.
The plea deal, revealed on Tuesday, was not unexpected. Under growing pressure from the Australian government and Assange's supporters, US President Joe Biden considered dropping the case. In February, Australia officially requested the case be dropped, arguing that Assange's continued incarceration was unjust.
Assange’s mother, Christine, expressed relief, saying, "This shows the importance and power of quiet diplomacy." Jodie Ginsberg, chief executive of the Committee to Protect Journalists, lauded the deal, highlighting its positive implications for global press freedom.
“Had Assange been extradited and prosecuted in the US, it could have set a dangerous precedent for journalists worldwide,” she said. “The plea deal allows the Biden administration to save face while finally ending Assange's ordeal.”
Conclusion
Julian Assange’s release marks the end of a long, contentious legal battle that has had significant implications for press freedom and international diplomacy. With his plea deal, Assange avoids the prospect of spending the rest of his life in prison and returns to Australia to be with his family.
Main Points:
- Julian Assange released from UK prison after reaching a plea deal with the US.
- Assange agrees to plead guilty to a single charge of breaching US espionage laws.
- He will be sentenced to 62 months, which he has already served.
- Assange flew out of the UK on Monday and will appear in a US court on Wednesday.
- Assange's legal troubles began in 2010 with a Swedish arrest warrant.
- The US charged Assange in 2019 with 17 counts of breaching the Espionage Act.
- The plea deal ends a protracted legal battle and prevents a precedent-setting prosecution.
- Assange’s mother and press freedom advocates expressed relief and praised the deal.
- The Australian government played a crucial role in pushing for Assange's release.
- Assange returns to Australia, marking the end of his long ordeal.
Questions and Answers
Why was Julian Assange released from prison? Assange was released after reaching a plea deal with the US, agreeing to plead guilty to a single charge of breaching espionage laws.
What charge will Assange plead guilty to? Assange will plead guilty to conspiring to obtain and disclose classified US national defense documents.
How long did Assange spend in Belmarsh prison? Assange spent 1,901 days in Belmarsh high-security prison.
Where will Assange be sentenced? He will be sentenced in a court in Saipan, a US Pacific territory.
What was WikiLeaks known for? WikiLeaks gained prominence for publishing classified documents, including footage of a US Apache helicopter attack in Baghdad and hundreds of thousands of documents on the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
What were the US charges against Assange? The US charged Assange with 17 counts of breaching the Espionage Act, accusing him of conspiring with Chelsea Manning to leak classified information.
How did Assange avoid extradition to Sweden in 2012? He sought refuge in Ecuador's London embassy and remained there for seven years.
What role did the Australian government play in Assange’s release? The Australian government officially requested the US to drop the case, arguing that Assange’s continued incarceration was unjust.
What are the implications of Assange’s plea deal for press freedom? Press freedom advocates argue that prosecuting Assange under the Espionage Act posed a significant threat to free speech and that the plea deal prevents a dangerous precedent.
What will Assange do now that he is released? Assange will return to Australia to be with his family, marking the end of his long ordeal.
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