London, UK – Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, is set to be freed after reaching a plea agreement with the US justice department. The deal comes after years of legal battles and detention in the UK.
Key Points:
- Assange will plead guilty to a conspiracy charge related to the publication of classified US documents.
- He is expected to receive a prison sentence already served and be released immediately.
- The agreement avoids a lengthy extradition battle and allows Assange to return to Australia.
Years-Long Saga Ends
Assange has been wanted by the US since 2010 for publishing classified military and diplomatic documents. He faced up to 175 years in prison under US espionage laws.
The agreement ends a legal saga spanning nearly 14 years. Assange had been detained in a high-security prison in London since 2019 while fighting extradition to the US.
Reactions to the News
WikiLeaks and Assange’s family welcomed the news, with WikiLeaks calling his release “a victory for press freedom.” The Australian government also expressed relief that the case is finally resolved.
Next Steps
A hearing to finalize the sentencing is scheduled for Wednesday in the US territory of the Mariana Islands. If approved by the judge, Assange could be released as soon as he returns to the UK.
