Agreement with US justice: Assange returned to Australia as a free man
Assange raised his fist in the air as he stepped onto Australian soil for the first time since landing in Canberra with a private jet. He then hugged his wife Stella and his father.
Assange had confessed to the conspiracy to provide information related to national defense in a plea deal with US justice. At a court hearing in the Pacific territory of the Northern Mariana Islands, US Judge Ramona V. Manglona announced on a Wednesday that Assange could leave the courtroom as a free man. The Australian, who appeared exhausted but relaxed during the court proceedings, then flew towards his homeland.
Assange was formally sentenced to five years and two months in prison at the hearing. However, this sentence is considered served due to his previous detention in a British prison. Before his imprisonment, Assange had sought asylum in the Ecuadorian embassy in London for seven years.
Assange's lawyer Jen Robinson described it as a "historic day," which would end 14 years of legal battles. She referred to the case as "the greatest threat" to freedom of speech in the United States in the 21st century.
Assange's wife spoke at a press conference in Canberra, stating that the 52-year-old needed time to recover from his prison stay and long journey home. "We ask for your space, for your privacy to be respected, ... for our family to be a family," Stella Assange said. Her husband would speak out in due time. He would "always defend human rights, always defend the victims," she added.
Australian Prime Minister Albanese welcomed the resolution in the Assange case as the result of "careful, patient, and determined work." According to his assessment, this outcome was desired by "the overwhelming majority of Australians."
The basis for the plea deal with US justice were clandestine talks. "A whole series of people" had traveled to the US unnoticed by the press to prepare the agreement, Albanese stated. He himself had exchanged words with Assange's lawyers during the negotiations. Upon arrival, he personally spoke with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.
The German government also welcomed Assange's release. "It's good news that Mr. Assange is finally outside. The legal proceedings have taken much too long," a spokesperson for the Foreign Office said.
The US Justice Department announced that Assange would be barred from entering the United States without permission in the future as part of the agreement. He is accused of publishing around 700,000 confidential documents on US military and diplomatic activities between 2010. The papers contained sensitive information about US military actions in Iraq and Afghanistan, including the killing of civilians and the mistreatment of prisoners by US military personnel.
For his supporters, Assange is a hero fighting for free speech. His critics see him as a criminal who put US security and confidential sources at risk.
Assange's agreement with the US justice came two weeks before an important hearing before the British justice. This was supposed to be about his extradition to the USA. Following a court decision, the British government had already agreed to Assange's extradition in June 2022, but Assange had been fighting from the high-security Belmarsh prison against this. He faced up to 175 years in prison in the USA.
Assange's lawyer Robinson thanked Prime Minister Albanese for his efforts on behalf of the Wikileaks founder. After the landing, she spoke with Albanese and told him, "he had saved his life" [sic].
- Upon arrival in Canberra, Julian Assange, the WikiLeaks founder, was greeted by his wife Stella and father, after a long time in Australia.
- The Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, praised the resolution in the Assange case as the result of "careful, patient, and determined work."
- Assange confessed to a conspiracy to provide information related to national defense in a plea deal with US justice, following a court hearing in the Northern Mariana Islands.
- The US Justice Department announced that Assange would be barred from entering the United States without permission in the future, as part of the agreement.
- Assange's lawyer, Jen Robinson, described the day as "historic," ending 14 years of legal battles, and referred to the case as "the greatest threat" to freedom of speech in the United States in the 21st century.
- Stella Assange, Julian's wife, asked for privacy for their family and stated that her husband needed time to recover from his prison stay and long journey home.
- The US Justice: Assange is accused of publishing around 700,000 confidential documents on US military and diplomatic activities, containing sensitive information about US military actions in Iraq and Afghanistan.
- The German government welcomed Assange's release, stating that it was good news that he was finally outside and that the legal proceedings had taken much too long.
- Assange's supporters view him as a hero fighting for free speech, while his critics see him as a criminal who put US security and confidential sources at risk.
