What Is Julian Assange's New Plea Agreement With The US And When Will He Be Released?

Photo-Reuters

In New Delhi, a significant development has emerged in the long-standing legal saga of Julian Assange, founder of WikiLeaks, as he prepares to enter a plea deal with the Biden administration. Assange, who faces charges related to the publication of classified US national defense documents, including sensitive military files and diplomatic cables, spanning from 2010 to 2011, has agreed to plead guilty to a single count of conspiring to obtain and disclose these materials. The case centers on Assange's collaboration with Chelsea Manning, a former Army intelligence analyst who leaked the documents, leading to revelations such as the infamous US airstrike in Baghdad captured on video.

The legal battle against Assange intensified in 2019 under the Trump administration, with charges under the Espionage Act and efforts to extradite him from the UK, where he has been in custody. Originally facing 17 charges related to espionage and one for computer misuse, Assange potentially faced up to 175 years in prison if convicted on all counts. Manning, who initially faced severe penalties, had her sentence commuted in 2017 by President Barack Obama.

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Under the terms of the plea deal, Assange, aged 52, will receive a sentence of 62 months, equivalent to the time served in UK prisons, pending finalization at a hearing scheduled in Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands. Following sentencing, Assange plans to return to his native Australia, marking a potential resolution to his lengthy confinement, which has seen him detained in London's Belmarsh prison for the past five years and previously residing in Ecuador's embassy in London to avoid extradition.

Assange's case has garnered global attention, drawing both support from free speech advocates who view him as a champion against government secrecy and criticism from those concerned about national security implications. Throughout his ordeal, a widespread campaign involving grassroots organizers, press freedom advocates, and political leaders has rallied for Assange's release, garnering support from international bodies like the United Nations. As the legal proceedings reach a critical juncture, Assange's impending plea deal and anticipated return to Australia mark a pivotal moment in a complex and contentious chapter of global journalism and legal precedent.

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