Julian Assange, the journalist and founder of WikiLeaks, was released from Belmarsh Prison in London and promptly departed the United Kingdom. Assange had sought political asylum at the Ecuadorian embassy in the UK from 2012 until 2019. Following his arrest, he was held in solitary confinement in a two-by-three-meter cell for 1901 days.
Assange’s release came after striking a deal with U.S. judicial authorities, who had charged him with disseminating classified national security information. This article delves into the details of the deal that led to Assange’s freedom, his reasons for negotiating with the U.S. Department of Justice, and the implications for his future.
Why was Julian Assange released? Julian Assange secured his release by reaching a preliminary agreement with the prosecution. “He left the high-security Belmarsh prison on the morning of June 24, having spent 1901 days there. The High Court of London released him on bail,” stated WikiLeaks representatives.
Reports of a potential deal surfaced in March via The Wall Street Journal, citing informed sources. In April, U.S. President Joe Biden suggested the possibility of closing the case, following Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s appeal to end the prosecution. “We are looking into it,” Biden commented.
A private aircraft, carrying Assange after his release, landed at Don Mueang International Airport in Bangkok, Thailand, on June 25, 2024.
What are the details of the deal? Assange admitted guilt to one of eighteen charges that could have resulted in a 175-year prison sentence. This charge pertained to the unlawful distribution of information linked to U.S. national security.
Julian Assange will not be extradited to the U.S. Assange brokered the deal in the UK, avoiding extradition to the U.S., a demand of the prosecution.
Previously, the High Court of London had denied his extradition due to his deteriorating health while incarcerated. Despite this, Assange is required to participate in hearings where he will plead guilty and sign necessary agreements.
What happens next in the judicial process? According to WikiLeaks, the deal with the U.S. Department of Justice is not yet officially completed.
Assange will soon attend a hearing on Saipan Island in the Northern Mariana Islands (a U.S. territory in the Pacific Ocean). It is anticipated that on June 26, the federal court will find him guilty and sentence him to 62 months in prison. However, given that Assange has already served this duration in the UK, he will not need to serve additional time in the U.S.
Why are the hearings being held in the Northern Mariana Islands? The hearings are taking place in Saipan to prevent Assange from entering the mainland United States, a condition of the deal. The archipelago’s proximity to Assange’s homeland, Australia, is also a factor.
What are Julian Assange’s plans? Following his release, Assange left the UK to attend the hearings. WikiLeaks reports that he will subsequently fly to Australia, where authorities have previously sought a review of his case. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the case as “overly prolonged,” with the government confirming continued consular support for Assange. “We know that Australian citizen Julian Assange has scheduled court proceedings in the United States,” stated the Prime Minister’s office.
How did the U.S. react to the journalist’s release? In the U.S., Assange’s release was praised by Republican representatives, including Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene. “Julian Assange is set to be released after being held for years for the crime of committing journalism. Praise God for setting Julian FREE!!” she wrote, asserting that journalism should not be criminalized. Conversely, former Vice President Mike Pence criticized the deal as a “judicial mistake,” arguing that Assange should be held accountable due to the security threat he posed.
Independent presidential candidate Robert Kennedy Jr. hailed Assange as a “hero of a generation,” though he believed Assange should not have admitted guilt. Journalist Tucker Carlson celebrated the “release of a good man.” Businessman Vivek Ramaswamy suggested the timing of Assange’s release, just before the U.S. presidential elections, was a strategic move by Joe Biden to garner libertarian votes. “[It] smells like a desperate Biden gambit for libertarian votes” Ramaswamy asserted.
Why was Julian Assange facing 175 years in prison? Julian Assange founded WikiLeaks in 2006 to publish classified materials. In 2010, the site released documents detailing U.S. military actions in Iraq and Afghanistan, including a video of a helicopter attack in Baghdad that resulted in 11 deaths, including two Reuters journalists. This was the largest leak of classified military documents in history, viewed by the U.S. as a national security threat.
In October 2016, WikiLeaks published emails from John Podesta, chairman of Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign, revealing discussions about donations from mineral extraction to the Clinton Foundation. The U.S. Department of Justice charged Assange with 17 counts in May 2019, later adding one more, potentially sentencing him to 175 years in prison.
Assange’s legal troubles began with charges of sexual harassment and rape in Sweden. A court issued a warrant for his arrest in August 2010. The charge was later on dropped in 2019.
How did he end up in prison? Assange was initially arrested in London in 2010 at Sweden’s request but was released on bail. To avoid extradition, he sought refuge in the Ecuadorian embassy in the UK, where he stayed for seven years. In 2019, his asylum was revoked, and he was removed by police at the behest of the U.S. and sent to Belmarsh Prison.