Julian Assange, the WikiLeaks founder, has accepted a plea deal with the U.S. government and was spotted boarding a plane to Saipan, a U.S. territory, to attend hearings related to the deal.
Fox News reported that the plea deal includes a five-year prison sentence, which considers the time he has already served, effectively leading to his release.
On Monday, Assange was seen boarding a plane to Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands. The flight, which cost him $500,000, allowed him to avoid landing on the U.S. mainland. The plea deal with the American government marks a significant turn in Assange's legal battle, which has lasted for over a decade.
Assange has been imprisoned in Britain for the past five years, fighting extradition to the U.S. The plea deal he accepted includes a five-year prison sentence, which considers the time he has already served. This means that upon approval of his guilty plea by a judge, Assange will be released.
The plea deal involves Assange pleading guilty to one count of conspiring to obtain and disclose information related to national defense. The approval of the judge is the final step required for the deal to be fully realized, leading to his freedom.
Before his imprisonment, Assange spent seven years in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London. He sought refuge there to avoid arrest on rape allegations by Swedish authorities. The charges against him also include the publication of classified information related to U.S. wars, State Department cables, and Guantanamo Bay detainees.
WikiLeaks reported that the High Court in London granted Assange bail, enabling him to board a plane at London Stansted Airport to return to Australia. His journey to Australia marks the end of a long period of legal struggles and exile.
Assange's wife, Stella Assange, celebrated the plea deal on social media. She expressed her immense gratitude to supporters who had mobilized for years to achieve this outcome. WikiLeaks also expressed gratitude, emphasizing the collective effort in the fight for Assange's freedom.
Stella Assange posted on X:
Julian is free!!!! Words cannot express our immense gratitude to YOU- yes YOU, who have all mobilised [sic] for years and years to make this come true. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
WikiLeaks, in a social media post, also expressed their thanks:
As he returns to Australia, we thank all who stood by us, fought for us, and remained utterly committed in the fight for his freedom. Julian's freedom is our freedom.
Assange's return to Australia signifies the end of a prolonged legal ordeal. The publication of classified information has been a contentious issue, leading to widespread debate and legal challenges. The plea deal and his subsequent release mark a significant chapter in the saga of WikiLeaks and its controversial founder.
As Assange's guilty plea awaits a judge's approval, the focus now shifts to the legal implications and future of WikiLeaks. The organization, which has been a central figure in the debate over transparency and government secrecy, continues to navigate its role in the global landscape.
Julian Assange's acceptance of a plea deal with the U.S. government and his journey to Saipan mark the latest developments in a long-running legal saga. His five-year prison sentence, which includes time already served, effectively leads to his release upon judicial approval of his guilty plea. Assange's previous years in the Ecuadorian Embassy and subsequent imprisonment have been a testament to his complex legal battles. Reactions from his wife and WikiLeaks highlight the collective effort and relief among supporters. As Assange returns to Australia, the legal and political implications of his actions and the future of WikiLeaks remain topics of significant interest.
