Julian Assange, the controversial founder of WikiLeaks, is on his way to a U.S. court in Saipan to finalize a plea deal that promises to end his long-standing legal troubles. The agreement, which marks a significant development in the years-long pursuit by the U.S. government, will see Assange plead guilty to charges under the Espionage Act, culminating a dramatic chapter in international legal history.
Assange's journey began with a chartered flight from London, confirmed by his wife, Stella, and tracked by Flightradar24. The plane made a refueling stop in Bangkok before heading to Saipan, the capital of the Northern Mariana Islands, where Assange is scheduled to appear in court. The choice of Saipan, a U.S. commonwealth in the Pacific, was made to accommodate Assange's opposition to traveling to the continental United States.
"Thirteen-and-a-half years and two extradition requests after he was first arrested, Julian Assange left the U.K. yesterday, following a bail hearing last Thursday, held in private at his request," stated Stephen Parkinson, the chief prosecutor for England and Wales. This private hearing paved the way for Assange's departure from the U.K., where he has been embroiled in legal battles for over a decade.
Assange is expected to plead guilty to conspiring to unlawfully obtain and disseminate classified national defense information. This plea deal is seen as a resolution to a case that has sparked intense debate over press freedom and national security. U.S. prosecutors have maintained that Assange's actions endangered national security, while his supporters argue that he acted as a journalist exposing government wrongdoing.
REPORT: Julian Assange spent $500k for his flight out of the UK to avoid landing on the American homeland after he was released from prison.
Assange will instead be landing on a remote U.S. island where he will plead guilty to the charges.
The island is the U.S. territory of… pic.twitter.com/Qbp8ShwtT4 — Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) June 25, 2024
Stella Assange expressed her relief and joy from Australia, describing the deal as a "touch and go" situation over the past 72 hours. "He will be a free man once it is signed off by a judge," she told the BBC. Her optimism was echoed by Kristinn Hrafnsson, editor-in-chief of WikiLeaks, who attributed the breakthrough to the involvement of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. "This is the result of a long, long process which has been going on for some time. It has been a tough battle, but the focus now is on Julian being reunited with his family," Hrafnsson said.
The plea agreement ensures that Assange will admit guilt but avoids additional prison time. He is expected to be sentenced to the five years he has already spent in a British prison, effectively granting him freedom. This outcome follows a series of legal maneuvers, including a recent victory in his fight against extradition from the U.K., where his lawyers argued that he would not receive fair treatment under U.S. laws.
The announcement of the plea deal has drawn mixed reactions. While some celebrate Assange's impending freedom, others remain critical of his actions. His publication of classified documents, including a video of a 2007 Apache helicopter attack in Baghdad that killed 11 people, has been both lauded for exposing military misconduct and condemned for potentially compromising national security.
Assange's legal saga began in 2010 with the release of a vast trove of U.S. military and diplomatic documents, provided by former Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning. The Obama administration considered but ultimately decided against charging Assange, fearing it would be difficult to distinguish his actions from those of traditional journalists. However, the Trump administration revived the case, leading to Assange's indictment in 2019.
In a poignant twist, Assange's personal and professional lives have been deeply intertwined with his legal battles. He spent seven years in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London to avoid extradition to Sweden over rape allegations, which he denied and which were eventually dropped. His time in the embassy and subsequent incarceration in London's Belmarsh Prison have taken a toll on his health, according to his family and supporters.
As Assange's plane makes its way to Saipan, his supporters worldwide remain hopeful that this plea deal will close a tumultuous chapter in his life. "Regardless of the views that people have about Mr. Assange's activities, the case has dragged on for too long," said Australian Prime Minister Albanese. "There's nothing to be gained by his continued incarceration and we want him brought home to Australia."
