The Wikileaks founder will return to Australia after years behind bars and in exile. What happens now?
After years of appeals and litigation, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has entered into a plea deal with the US government, according to court documents.
The deal is subject to a hearing and sentencing in Saipan on Wednesday morning, where outlets are reporting Assange will appear in person. He’s been released from London’s Belmarsh prison, with WikiLeaks sharing vision of him en route to London’s Stanstead Airport.Upon his guilty plea, Assange will be sentenced to 62 months in prison: time he’s already served in Belmarsh.
It also sets a practical precedent, if not necessarily a legal one, that a publisher can be convicted under the Espionage Act in the US. While the devil will be in the details of the deal, this is what many journalists were afraid of. The Australian government has been pushing hard for a couple of years now for this case to end. The case for stopping prosecution has had bipartisan support here.
There’s a growing consensus in the US, even among some Republicans, that it’s not in the public interest to continue.
Ecuador Extradition Human Rights Julian Assange Julian Assange Plea Deal London National Security Press Freedom Society US Federal Law Whistleblowing Wikileaks
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Julian Assange in pictures: From pre-Wikileaks to plea dealJulian Assange has walked free from prison after a years-long case that saw him ultimately agree to a plea ...
Read more »
Live: Parents of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange welcome son's release from prisonJulian Assange's dad tells the ABC the news is 'energising', while his mother says she's 'grateful' his ordeal is ending. Follow live.
Read more »
‘No one should judge’ Wikileaks founder Julian Assange for accepting deal, Australian MP saysAustralian prime minister Anthony Albanese has said Assange’s case had dragged on for too long and nothing was gained by his ongoing incarceration
Read more »
Wikileaks founder Julian Assange will plead guilty in deal with US and return to AustraliaWikileaks founder Julian Assange will plead guilty to a felony charge in a deal with the US Justice Department.
Read more »
Wikileaks founder Julian Assange to plead guilty in deal with US and return to Australia7NEWS brings you the latest local news from Australia and around the world. Stay up to date with all of the breaking sport, politics, entertainment, finance, weather and business headlines. Today's news, live updates & all the latest breaking stories from 7NEWS.
Read more »
Julian Assange’s mother grateful his ‘ordeal’ is ending as father welcomes ‘wonderful’ newsChristine Assange says release from prison shows ‘power of quiet diplomacy’ as she thanks those who ‘put Julian’s welfare first’
Read more »