Julian Assange Freed After Agreeing to Plead Guilty
The US has agreed to sentence him to time served in a British prision. Assange will go back home to Australia
June 25, 2024 06:00 AM
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TL;DR Wikileaks founder Julian Assange is expected to be freed from prison. A plea deal with U.S. authorities will see him sentenced to time already served. Assange will plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to obtain and disclose national defense information.
Wikileaks founder Julian Assange has allegedly been released from a British prison. He has agreed to plead guilty to violating the United States espionage law in a deal that would permit him to return to his native Australia. The deal, reported by Sky News U.K. on June 24, will see him sentenced to time already served in a British prison.
According to the Guardian, an airplane thought to be carrying Assange, on his way to enter a plea deal in a U.S. court in the Northern Mariana Islands, has just landed in Bangkok, according to online tracker FlightRadar.
Australia Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has confirmed that Assange left the U.K., adding that the case had "dragged on for too long." He said that Australia's high commissioner to the U.K., Stephen Smith, accompanies Assange.
The Plea Deal
Specifically, Assange will plead guilty to U.S. charges on one count of conspiracy to obtain and disclose national defense information. This charge is a significant part of the legal battles he has been fighting for years.
In return for his guilty plea, he will be sentenced to 62 months of time served, which corresponds to the amount of time he has spent imprisoned in London's Belmarsh Prison.
Freedom Awaits
Assange, an Australian national, will be free to return to his home country upon release. This is a monumental development in the saga that has gripped the world.
His potential freedom marks a new chapter for the controversial figure, who has been both lauded and vilified for his role in leaking classified information.
"This is a developing story; further information will be added as it becomes available."
Global Reactions
The plea deal and Assange's impending release are expected to evoke strong reactions globally. Supporters view him as a champion of transparency and free speech.
Critics, however, see him as a reckless individual who endangered national security. The balance between these perspectives will shape the discourse as he steps back into public life.
Future Prospects
Assange's release will also raise questions about his future endeavors. Will he continue working with Wikileaks or embark on a different path? The world will be watching closely. His actions have had profound implications on journalism, cybersecurity, and global politics, and his next moves will undoubtedly be scrutinized.
This story is still unfolding. Stay tuned for more updates as they become available.