Judge declares Julian Assange 'a free man' as he pleads guilty in WikiLeaks espionage case
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange (left) is escorted as he arrives at the United States courthouse
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange on Wednesday (Jun 26) pleaded guilty in a US court to a single count of conspiring to obtain and disclose classified US national defence information. The plea deal, which has ended years of legal battles and made him a free man, was entered at a US District Court on the Northern Mariana Islands. The location was chosen as Assange didn't agree to travel to the continental US. Additionally, the Mariana Islands lie close to his home nation Australia, where Assange will finally be heading to.
“I am, in fact, guilty of the charge,” Assange told the court.
Assange's crime
When asked by Judge Ramona Manglona about his crime, Assange said, "Working as a journalist, I encouraged my source to provide information that was said to be classified in order to publish that information. I believe that the First Amendment protected that activity… I believe the First Amendment and the Espionage Act are in contradiction with each other, but I accept that it would be difficult to win such a case given all these circumstances.”
Towards the end, the judge declared the case had finally ended in the court and that Assange would walk from here a free man.
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"For these reasons ... on the basis of this very serious espionage case against you ... I am in fact sentencing you to a period of time served," the judge said, adding, "I am not imposing any period of supervised release".
“With this pronouncement, it appears you will be able to walk out of this courtroom a free man. I hope there will be some peace restored,” Judge Manglona added.
The plea deal
Under the plea deal, the 52-year-old will be required to destroy information provided to WikiLeaks.
The plea deal bypasses a tedious trial process and potential prison term for Assange in the US, who has been on the wanted list since 2010 after he publicised US classified documents.
Watch:WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange will plead guilty with the US Justice Department
Following his release, Assange is expected to travel back to Australia. Meanwhile, the Australian government has lauded the proceedings, saying the case had "dragged on for too long." It's understood that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had raised Assange’s case when he visited the White House last October.
(With inputs from agencies)