WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has decided to plead guilty under an agreement with the US Justice Department, resulting in his release after five years in a British prison and return to Australia.
WikiLeaks today announced that “Julian Assange is free,” stating that their founder had been released from a British prison and flown out of the United Kingdom.
Shortly after, court documents revealed that Assange is set to plead guilty later this week to violating US espionage laws for disclosing alleged war crimes by American troops. This plea deal will allow him to return home to Australia.
Documents filed on Monday evening show that Assange has agreed to plead guilty to a felony charge related to one of the largest breaches of classified material in US history. This agreement with the Justice Department will enable him to avoid imprisonment in the US.
The WikiLeaks founder is expected to appear in court and receive a 62-month sentence, with credit for time served in a British prison, allowing him to return to his birthplace, Australia.
The Australian government acknowledged Assange’s legal proceedings, noting that his case has “dragged on for too long.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has expressed that “Mr. Assange’s case has dragged on for too long and there is nothing to be gained by his continued incarceration,” according to a government spokesperson.
A UN expert praised the decision of the High Court of Justice in London to allow Assange’s appeal against his extradition to the US, calling it a “welcome relief.” However, Alice Jill Edwards, the UN special rapporteur on torture, cautioned that “the case is not over yet.”
“I welcome the High Court’s decision to allow the case to proceed to a full appeal. This is a terribly complex case, but at the heart of it are issues around human rights and values we hold as a society and the protections afforded to those who disclose potential war crimes,” Edwards stated.
In a recent development, the court ruled that US assurances were not sufficiently convincing, leading to a reexamination of Assange’s appeal. As a result, he will not be legally extraditable to the US to face 18 charges under the Espionage Act of 1917 for allegedly disseminating classified information via WikiLeaks.
“The impact of this long-running legal saga has taken a heavy toll on Mr. Assange’s health. I hope that relevant governments, including Mr. Assange’s own country Australia, can come to an agreement, rather than proceed further with lengthy legal battles,” Edwards added.
Assange, who has been detained in a UK prison since 2019, faces extradition over allegations of leaking classified documents in 2010-2011.
