EA US court in the western Pacific island of Saipan has approved a deal between WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and the US Justice Department on espionage charges, sealing his release.
The BBC and the British “Guardian” unanimously reported this from the courtroom on Wednesday. Accordingly, the 52-year-old will be released in lieu of a guilty plea after serving his sentence in Great Britain. Assange was surprisingly released from British custody on Monday.
Assange admitted to conspiring to illegally obtain and disclose US military secrets. He argued that the so-called Espionage Act, a US counter-espionage law he was charged with, violated the right to freedom of expression guaranteed in the First Amendment. But he recognizes that encouraging whistleblowers to provide classified information is illegal, Assange told the court.
As the Guardian and news outlets continued to report from the courtroom, Judge Ramona Villacomez Manglona said: “With this verdict it seems you can leave this courtroom a free man. I hope peace returns.”
It was an early birthday present for Assange: “I hear it’s your birthday next week. Hope you start your new life in a positive way,” added the judge.
Julian Assange (M) arrives at the court in Saipan with Australian Ambassador to the US Kevin Rudd (R).
Source: dpa/Eugene Hoshiko
Assange previously had a plea deal with the US Department of Justice. Following his guilty plea, he is now expected to be sentenced to five years in prison to make up for time spent in British custody. He will then be allowed to return to his home country of Australia.
While the Guardian was still reporting on the ongoing trial against Assange from the courtroom, WikiLeaks published a post on the X site that purported to show details of Assange’s departure to Australia.
Accordingly, the Australian should depart from the Northern Mariana Islands to Canberra, Australia at 4:10 am German time.
“against one of the most powerful governments in the world”
After his release, Assange’s lawyers spoke of a “historic day”. “Against all odds, today we have freed Julian Assange from one of the world’s most powerful governments, which gives hope to all journalists and publishers around the world,” said Australian human rights lawyer Jennifer Robinson. Court at Saipan.
Robinson specifically thanked Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for his tireless efforts on behalf of Assange, who was recently jailed for five years in London. The Prime Minister has repeatedly campaigned at the highest levels to resolve the legal impasse surrounding Australia.
“It would not be fair or appropriate to detain Assange further and it is appropriate for the judge to find, as he did today, that it is time for him to be reunited with his family,” said his lawyer Barry Pollock. Assange suffered greatly in his fight for freedom of expression and freedom of the press.
There would have been a threat of 175 years in prison
Assange is the protagonist of a major espionage scandal. In 2006, the Australian founded WikiLeaks with the aim of supporting whistleblowers and bringing hidden information to light.
Since 2010, WikiLeaks has released classified information from US military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan by whistleblower Chelsea Manning. The U.S. continued to accuse Assange of stealing and releasing classified material and thereby endangering the lives of U.S. informants.
For a long time, the US Department of Justice wanted to try Assange on espionage charges. He could have served 175 years in prison in the United States. Instead, he recently negotiated a deal with the U.S. Department of Justice.
The plea deal is intended to spare Assange further imprisonment in the United States. The US had previously sought his extradition from Great Britain. Instead, the 52-year-old was to be released immediately after the court hearing, according to previously released US court documents.
“A good day for Assange, not a good day for press freedom”
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange wants to plead guilty to part of the espionage scandal in exchange for avoiding further jail time in the United States. “This is not a good day for press freedom,” says WELT editor Denise Yucel.
Quelle: WELT TV / Deniz Yücel
It was an adventurous end to a year-long odyssey with many legal battles. Assange began his incarceration at London’s high-security Belmarsh prison five years ago. Before his arrest in April 2019, he evaded law enforcement authorities for seven years at the Ecuadorian embassy in London.
They initially targeted him because of rape allegations in Sweden. However, these charges were later dropped due to lack of evidence. As the United States has been calling for Assange’s extradition for years, human rights organizations, journalists’ associations, artists and politicians have called for his immediate release. The Australian government also campaigned for the release of its citizens.
. “Amateur alcohol specialist. Reader. Hardcore introvert. Freelance explorer.”