WikiLeaks Founder Julian Assange Released from British Prison After 5 Years, To Plead Guilty in US Pacific Island Court

Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, was released from a British prison on Tuesday and is en route to a remote Pacific island to plead guilty to a conspiracy charge.

This move is part of a plea deal with the U.S. Justice Department, which will end the prolonged legal battle over his publication of classified documents.

Assange to Plead Guilty in Northern Mariana Islands

According to court documents, Assange has been charged with conspiracy to obtain and disclose national defense information.

This charge, typically part of a plea deal, signifies the end of his legal struggles.

A letter from Justice Department official Matthew McKenzie confirmed that the Wikileaks founder would appear in court in the Northern Mariana Islands, a U.S. territory north of Guam, at 9 a.m. local time on Wednesday to plead guilty.

WikiLeaks posted footage of Assange boarding a plane at Stansted Airport near London on Monday.

The plane, believed to be carrying Assange, made a stop in Bangkok, Thailand, to refuel before continuing to the Northern Mariana Islands for what could be Assange’s final court hearing.

Australian Officials and Family Respond

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed relief over the resolution of Assange’s case, stating, “The case has dragged on for too long, there is nothing to be gained by his continued incarceration, and we want him brought home to Australia.”

Christine Assange, Julian’s mother, shared her gratitude, emphasizing the significance of quiet diplomacy. “I am grateful that my son’s ordeal is finally coming to an end,” she stated.

Stella Assange, Julian’s wife, currently in Australia with their two children, shared her elation.

She mentioned on BBC Radio 4, “He will be a free man once it is signed off by a judge.”

However, she also noted the uncertainty of the deal until the last 24 hours.

Charges and Legal Background

Assange’s charges are linked to one of the largest leaks of classified information in U.S. history.

Starting in late 2009, Assange, in collaboration with Chelsea Manning, a military intelligence analyst, published tens of thousands of activity reports about the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, State Department cables, and assessment briefs of detainees at Guantánamo Bay.

Court documents filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands on Monday evening revealed Assange’s plea deal.

He is expected to be sentenced to 62 months, with credit for time served in British prison, allowing him to return to Australia, his birth country.

Official Statements and Past Extradition Battles

Adrienne Watson, a National Security Council spokesperson, clarified that the plea deal was an independent decision by the Department of Justice, with no involvement from the White House.

Assange has been detained in Belmarsh Prison in London for five years. Prior to that, he spent seven years in self-imposed exile at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London until his asylum was revoked in April 2019.

Assange has been contesting extradition for over a decade. Initially, it was in connection with a now-dropped sex crimes case in Sweden and later, with the case against him in the United States.

His legal team has sought assurances that he could rely on the First Amendment if tried in the U.S., and a hearing on his free speech rights was scheduled for July 9-10.

Broader Implications for Journalism

Stella Assange, also a lawyer, voiced concerns about the plea deal’s implications for journalists worldwide.

She plans to seek a pardon for her husband, emphasizing the serious implications of an espionage charge for the journalistic community.

The case against Assange has had far-reaching impacts, including the publication of hacked emails from the Democratic National Committee that influenced the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

Russian intelligence officers were later indicted in connection with the hacking in a case led by then-special counsel Robert Mueller.

During a joint news conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin, then-President Donald Trump contradicted the indictment, stating Putin’s strong denial of Russian interference.

Chelsea Manning, who collaborated with Assange, was initially sentenced to 35 years in military prison, a sentence later commuted by President Obama.

Manning was also held in contempt of court for nearly a year for refusing to answer grand jury questions, leading to her release after a suicide attempt.

This development marks a significant chapter in the saga of Julian Assange, with broader implications for issues of press freedom and national security.

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