The Deep State let him go after so many years of torture. Everyone still waits to hear what the true agreement was to get off on charges.
Julian Assange has returned to Australia following a plea deal that allowed him to leave a London prison. His arrival at Canberra Airport was marked by emotional reunions with his wife, Stella, and his father, while his lawyers looked on, visibly moved. Stella Assange spoke at a press conference shortly after, emphasizing that Julian needs time to recover and adjust to freedom after years of legal battles and imprisonment.
For the past 14 years, Assange has been entangled in a complex legal struggle with U.S. authorities, who accused him of leaking classified documents that they claimed endangered lives. Assange did not attend the press conference, leaving his wife and lawyer to speak on his behalf. Stella highlighted the ordeal her husband has endured and stressed the need for their family to have time together. The couple, who married in Belmarsh prison in 2022, have two children.
Julian Assange has landed in Australia after being freed by a US federal court, concluding more than a decade of legal wrangling between Washington and the WikiLeaks founder https://t.co/VrIExVNdCl pic.twitter.com/m8NGAC21Kv
— Financial Times (@FT) June 26, 2024
The plea deal required Assange to plead guilty to one charge of conspiracy to obtain and disclose national defense information, significantly reducing the original 18 charges he faced. This deal stemmed from a massive WikiLeaks disclosure in 2010, which included a video showing civilians being killed by a U.S. military helicopter in Baghdad and thousands of confidential documents revealing unreported civilian deaths by the U.S. military in Afghanistan. These revelations drew global attention and scrutiny of U.S. military actions.
Assange entered the plea remotely from the Northern Mariana Islands, an American territory in the Pacific, two days after leaving Belmarsh prison. The deal resulted in a sentence of time already served, allowing Assange to return home. His lawyer, Jen Robinson, criticized the deal, calling it a “criminalization of journalism” and a dangerous precedent. Stella Assange echoed these concerns, highlighting the implications for press freedom and the right to publish truthful information that serves the public interest.
WikiLeaks Founder Julian Assange accepts U.S. plea deal, returns to Australia#wikileaks #JulianAssangeFREE #assange #whistleblower #pleadeal #Australia #CIA #militarysecrets #obama #clinton #GlobalLawTodayhttps://t.co/DdzjVC8Lab
— Global Law Today (@GlobalLawToday) June 26, 2024
Assange’s lawyer also recounted a phone call between Assange and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who played a crucial role in securing his release. Assange expressed his gratitude, stating that Albanese “saved his life.” Albanese, in his own press conference, expressed satisfaction with the resolution of the case, acknowledging the considerable ordeal Assange had endured. He emphasized that while he does not agree with all of Assange’s actions, it was time for his release.
Addressing concerns about potential impacts on U.S.-Australia relations, Albanese affirmed the strong and positive relationship between the two countries. The White House distanced itself from the extradition process, with National Security Council spokesman John Kirby stating that the White House had no involvement.
Stella Assange speaks emotionally at a press conference and thanks the world after being reunited with her husband, Julian Assange, in Australia: “Julian wanted me to sincerely thank everyone..he needs time”
[DefendAssange] pic.twitter.com/Npbq9Kh6nK— AɯƙɯαɾԃMαɱα™® (@Aspiemama_107) June 26, 2024
Assange spent the last five years in Belmarsh Prison, fighting extradition to the U.S. Prior to that, he sought refuge in Ecuador’s London embassy for seven years to avoid separate charges of rape and sexual assault in Sweden, which he denied. The Swedish authorities dropped the case in 2019 due to the elapsed time since the original complaint. However, Swedish women’s rights groups expressed disappointment that Assange never faced questioning over the allegations, describing it as a missed opportunity for justice.
Key Points:
i. Julian Assange returned to Australia after a plea deal allowed him to leave a London prison, ending his long legal battle with U.S. authorities over leaked classified documents.
ii. Assange was reunited with his wife and father at Canberra Airport, with his wife emphasizing the need for him to recover and adjust to freedom.
iii. The plea deal reduced the original 18 charges to one charge of conspiracy to obtain and disclose national defense information, stemming from a 2010 WikiLeaks disclosure.
iv. Assange’s lawyer and wife criticized the deal as a “criminalization of journalism” and warned of its dangerous precedent for press freedom.
v. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who helped secure Assange’s release, expressed satisfaction with the resolution, while reaffirming strong U.S.-Australia relations.
Al Santana – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News
