Founder of WikiLeaks, Julian Assange, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to obtaining and publishing United States military secrets in a surprising resolution to a prolonged legal battle.
This deal with Justice Department prosecutors ensures his freedom and concludes a case that has sparked debate over press freedom and national security.
Assange, 52, entered his plea in an unexpected setting; a U.S. district court in Saipan, the capital of the Northern Mariana Islands.
This American commonwealth in the Pacific, being relatively close to his native Australia, suited his preference to avoid entering the continental United States.
The agreement required Assange to admit guilt to a single felony count but allowed him to return to Australia without serving additional prison time in the U.S.
The judge credited him with the five years he spent in a British prison while fighting extradition to the United States, where he faced charges under the Espionage Act that could have led to a lengthy sentence.
Having spent seven years in asylum at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London before his arrest, Assange smiled slightly as U.S. District Judge Ramona Manglona declared him a “free man.”
Both sides found the resolution acceptable. The Justice Department resolved the case without trial, addressing complex legal questions and avoiding a potentially endless extradition process.
Assange, while expressing his belief that the Espionage Act contradicts the First Amendment, accepted the consequences of his actions.
One of Assange’s lawyers, Jennifer Robinson, emphasized the broader implications, stating, “The case sets a dangerous precedent that should concern journalists everywhere.” She also expressed relief for Assange and his supporters, noting his imminent return to Australia.
Assange, dressed in a dark suit with a loosened tie, arrived at court after flying from Britain with his legal team and Australian officials.
He engaged attentively with Judge Manglona, an Obama appointee, during the hearing, at times lightening the atmosphere with jokes.
The plea deal, revealed in a Justice Department letter, represents the final chapter in a long legal saga involving the controversial Australian publisher.
Celebrated by supporters for his transparency efforts, Assange has also faced criticism from national security advocates for actions they say endangered lives.
The case stemmed from WikiLeaks’ publication of hundreds of thousands of war logs and diplomatic cables detailing U.S. military misconduct in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Prosecutors alleged that Assange collaborated with Chelsea Manning to obtain and publish these records, disregarding American national security. Among the exposed details were the names of human sources aiding U.S. forces.
Despite the serious charges, Assange garnered support from press freedom advocates for exposing military actions that might have remained hidden.
His publication of a 2007 Apache helicopter attack video, which killed 11 people including two Reuters journalists, was particularly notable.
Assange’s legal troubles began long before the indictment, with a Swedish arrest warrant issued in 2010 for allegations of rape and molestation, which he denied and which were later dropped.
Seeking asylum in 2012, he spent seven years in the Ecuadorian Embassy until his asylum was revoked, leading to his arrest by British police in 2019.
Concerns over Assange’s treatment in the U.S. influenced the extradition process, but the deal ultimately spared him American prison time, countering fears of harsh treatment.
In May, Assange won the right to appeal an extradition order, arguing for free speech protections.
His wife, Stella Assange, expressed relief from Australia, saying it had been “touch and go” whether the deal would proceed, but she felt “elated” at the outcome.
After the court hearing, Assange departed Saipan for Australia, where he was reunited with his family.
He had been granted bail during a secret hearing last week and left the London prison where he spent the past five years.
A video posted by WikiLeaks showed Assange looking out at the blue sky as his plane headed towards Saipan, capturing the dramatic shift from his years of confinement.
“Imagine. From over 5 years in a small cell in a maximum security prison. Nearly 14 years detained in the U.K. To this,” WikiLeaks wrote.
