On June 24, 2024, it was revealed that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is set to strike a plea deal in the U.S. District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands by admitting guilt to a single felony, ending a years-long battle for Assange’s freedom. Assange’s wife posted the following on her “X” (Twitter) account:
“Julian is free!!!!
Words cannot express our immense gratitude to YOU- yes YOU, who have all mobilised for years and years to make this come true. THANK YOU. tHANK YOU. THANK YOU.
Follow
@WikiLeaks
for more info soon…
@Stella_Assange”
A video posted by Stella Assange showed Julian signing a document before boarding a jet, presumably headed for his hearing. According to Reuters, “He is due to be sentenced to 62 months of time already served at a hearing on the island of Saipan at 9 a.m. local time on Wednesday (2300 GMT Tuesday).” The WikiLeaks founder is set to finally return to his Australian home after this hearing. Reuters takes a specific interest in Assange’s situation, as he leaked classified information about two of their journalists being gunned-down by U.S. forces in Iraq back in 2007. This whole situation is probably a best-case scenario for Assange, and a monumental day for journalism worldwide.
Sources:
WikiLeaks’ Julian Assange to be freed after pleading guilty to US espionage charge | reuters. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/wikileaks-assange-expected-plead-guilty-us-espionage-charge-document-says-2024-06-24/
CPJ welcomes reports that Assange will be released in plea deal. Committee to Protect Journalists. (2024, June 25). https://cpj.org/2024/06/cpj-welcomes-reports-that-assange-will-be-released-in-plea-deal/
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