Julian Assange has been spotted boarding a plane to the remote U.S. territory of Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands to attend upcoming hearings for his plea deal. He reportedly spent $500,000 on the flight in order to avoid setting foot on the U.S. mainland. Assange accepted a plea deal with the American government on Monday, which included a five-year sentence in prison. With time served taken into account, this effectively released Assange from further incarceration. Assange is expected to plead guilty to one count of conspiring to obtain and disclose information related to national defense when he reaches the U.S. federal court in Saipan.
Prior to boarding the plane to Saipan, Assange spent five years in a British prison as he fought against extradition to the U.S. The guilty plea that Assange has accepted must still be approved by a judge. This decision comes after Assange spent seven years seeking refuge in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London in order to avoid arrest on rape allegations from Swedish authorities. The British court has ruled that the extradition of Assange to the U.S. will be on pause until guarantees are provided that he will not face the death penalty once in the U.S.
Assange’s wife, Stella Assange, celebrated the plea deal on social media, expressing immense gratitude to supporters who had mobilized over the years in support of her husband. Wikileaks has announced that Assange was granted bail by the High Court in London and has since been released at London Stansted Airport, where he boarded a plane to return to Australia. The group expressed gratitude to all who had stood by them and fought for Assange’s freedom, emphasizing that Julian’s freedom is a shared victory.
The charges against Assange stem from the massive publication of classified information, including tens of thousands of documents related to the U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, State Department cables, and information about prisoners at Guantanamo Bay. As an Australian citizen and a hero to many advocates of press freedom, Assange’s case has drawn widespread attention and support from around the world. Australian lawmakers have sent a letter urging President Joe Biden to drop the case against Assange on World Press Freedom Day, highlighting the significance of his role in promoting transparency and accountability in government actions.
As Assange returns to Australia, supporters continue to rally for his cause, emphasizing the importance of standing by those who fight for press freedom and government transparency. The developments in Assange’s case are ongoing, and updates are expected in the coming days. The plea deal accepted by Assange marks a significant turning point in his years-long legal battle and has elicited both celebration and renewed calls for justice and protection of journalists who expose governmental wrongdoing.
