WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange strikes plea deal with US government, set to avoid imprisonment
- Julian Assange reaches a plea deal with the U.S. government.
- Under the agreement, Assange will be freed from prison and avoid imprisonment in the U.S.
- Assange agrees to plead guilty to a felony charge to evade further legal consequences.
In a significant development, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is set to plead guilty under an agreement that will allow him to avoid a prison sentence in the U.S. This comes after more than a decade of legal battles following his publication of classified military documents. Assange, who has been fighting extradition since 2010, will reportedly plead guilty to one count of conspiring to obtain and disclose national defense information. The deal includes a 62-month prison sentence, which will credit the time he has already spent in a high-security prison in London, and will see him return to his home country of Australia pending the approval of a federal judge. The U.K. court had previously ruled that Assange could not be immediately extradited to the U.S. unless certain conditions were met, including guarantees of First Amendment protections and no imposition of the death penalty. The U.S. met these conditions by April 16, leading to the current plea agreement. President Joe Biden had earlier hinted at considering the end of Assange's prosecution, and the pending deal marks a significant development in the long-standing legal saga. Assange's legal troubles began in 2010 when WikiLeaks released classified military documents, leading to a series of legal challenges and his subsequent arrest. The U.S. Justice Department later charged him with multiple counts related to the disclosure of classified information. The plea deal, if approved, will bring an end to years of legal battles and could see Assange finally being released after spending time in prison. The case has drawn attention from free press advocates and raised concerns about the implications for press freedom, with some arguing that the prosecution should not have been pursued. Assange's impending release has sparked reactions from various quarters, with supporters celebrating his potential freedom. The deal, which involves pleading guilty to criminal charges, signifies a significant turning point in the case that has garnered international attention. As Assange prepares to return to Australia, the resolution of his legal saga brings closure to a chapter that has been marked by controversy and legal complexities.