June 24, 2024 – WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has left the United Kingdom following a plea deal with US authorities, concluding his prolonged legal ordeal.The agreement requires Assange to plead guilty to reduced charges, resulting in his freedom without further US custody.
The Plea Deal and Charges :
Assange, 52, faced charges of conspiracy to obtain and disclose national defense information due to WikiLeaks’ release of classified documents on the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. The US government maintained that these leaks endangered lives. The plea deal allows Assange to credit the five years he spent in a British prison, thereby avoiding additional time in the US.
CBS News, in partnership with the BBC, reported that Assange’s deal will be finalized in a court in the Northern Mariana Islands, a US commonwealth closer to Australia. A letter from the US Justice Department confirmed his impending return to Australia.
Departure from the UK :
WikiLeaks announced on X (formerly Twitter) that Assange was released from Belmarsh prison after 1,901 days. He was then transported to Stansted Airport and boarded a flight to Australia. Video shared by WikiLeaks shows Assange, casually dressed, en route to the airport, although the BBC has not independently verified the footage.
Legal and Diplomatic Context :
The long court fight turned into a big issue between countries, with officials from Australia wanting it solved fast. A spokesperson for the Australian government told Agence France-Presse that the case had “dragged on for too long.” In April, US President Joe Biden acknowledged he was considering a request from Australia to drop the prosecution.
In May, the UK High Court allowed Assange to appeal his extradition, enabling him to challenge the US’s assurances about his trial and free speech rights. Following this, Stella Assange urged the Biden administration to reconsider the prosecution.
Historical Background :
Julian Assange founded WikiLeaks in 2006, and it quickly became known for publishing classified documents. In 2010, the site released a video showing a US military helicopter attack in Baghdad, resulting in the deaths of Iraqi civilians and two Reuters journalists. US prosecutors initially charged Assange on 18 counts, primarily under the Espionage Act.
Assange also faced rape and sexual assault allegations in Sweden, which he denied. To avoid extradition to Sweden, Assange sought asylum in Ecuador’s London embassy in 2012 and remained there until his asylum was revoked in 2019. Swedish authorities eventually dropped their case, but UK authorities detained him for failing to surrender to the court.
Future Prospects :
Julian Assange, an Australian national, will plead guilty to conspiracy charges related to obtaining and disclosing classified national defense information from the US wars in Afghanistan and Iraq through his WikiLeaks platform, as stated in court documents filed by the US Justice Department on Monday.
Following his guilty plea, Assange is expected to be released without further detention, pending a court hearing scheduled for 9 a.m. local time in the Northern Mariana Islands, a US commonwealth.
Once freed, Assange, aged 52, is anticipated to return to Australia, effectively concluding the protracted legal dispute between him and the US Justice Department. The Department had sought his extradition and trial in the United States.
