Julian Assange Agrees to Plead Guilty and Will Be Released from British Prison

Julian Assange, the controversial founder of WikiLeaks, has agreed to plead guilty to a single felony count of illegally obtaining and disclosing national security material in exchange for his release from a British prison. This decision marks the end of a long and bitter standoff with the United States.

Assange, 52, will appear before a federal judge in Saipan, the capital of the Northern Mariana Islands, a remote outpost of the federal judiciary. He is expected to be sentenced to about five years, equivalent to the time he has already served in Britain. The agreement was reached after Assange adamantly opposed extradition to the U.S. mainland.

His wife, Stella Assange, shared a video of him signing paperwork and boarding a plane, indicating his imminent release. The Australian government, including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, has expressed support for Assange’s return to Australia.

Assange’s case began after WikiLeaks released classified materials, including information about American military activities and confidential cables shared among diplomats. He faced a federal grand jury indictment in 2019 on 18 counts related to the dissemination of national security documents.

Despite facing a maximum sentence of 170 years in a federal prison, Assange’s plea deal will likely result in his release. His legal team and supporters have argued that his actions were in the public interest and deserving of First Amendment protections.

The case against Assange has been a contentious issue, with civil liberties and human rights groups calling it a threat to press freedom. U.S. officials maintain that Assange’s actions endangered national security by exposing sensitive information.

As Assange prepares to leave prison and potentially return to Australia, his supporters hope for a new chapter in his life. The conclusion of this high-profile case brings an end to a prolonged legal battle that has captured international attention.