Wikileaks founder Julian Assange walks free after plea deal ends years-long legal battle

New Delhi, June 26: Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, has been released from a US court after pleading guilty as part of a deal to conclude his protracted legal battle. After years of resisting US extradition from the UK to face charges of violating the Espionage Act, Assange is now a free man.

Speaking outside the courthouse, Assange's legal team hailed the outcome as a victory for free speech. His lawyer, Jennifer Robinson, emphasised that Assange has left a powerful legacy, sparking significant discussions on press freedom and national security. She also expressed gratitude to Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for his advocacy, which she credited with facilitating Assange's release.

"This brings to an end a case which has been recognised as the greatest threat to the First Amendment in the 21st century," Robinson said. The judge ruled that the 62 months Assange has already spent in custody should be accepted as his sentence, deeming it "fair" and "reasonable." "You will be able to walk out of this courtroom a free man," Judge Manglona declared.

Reflecting on the historical context, Judge Manglona mentioned the 80th anniversary of the battles on Saipan, expressing hope that the settlement of this case would bring peace. Assange now faces no further prison time and is set to return to Australia following the hearing held in the Northern Mariana Islands, a US territory.

Assange was pursued by US prosecutors for leaking a vast amount of secret military information and faced a potentially lengthy sentence in a high-security prison. Last week, he agreed to a deal with the US, pleading guilty to one espionage charge instead of the 18 originally filed against him. He left the UK on Monday after five years in prison fighting extradition and seven years in the Ecuadorian embassy.

Assange's wife, Stella Assange, expressed her elation over his release to the BBC. The US Department of Justice (DOJ) released a detailed statement following the sentencing, outlining the case's backstory and the plea deal's outcome. The deal prohibits Assange from returning to the United States without permission.

Stella Assange told Reuters they would seek a pardon for his conviction, which could potentially allow Assange to return to the US without restrictions. Assange's plane has departed Saipan Island and is en route to Canberra. WikiLeaks shared details of the flight, operated by Malta-based charter service VistaJet. Assange is expected to land in Australia's capital at around 18:41 local time (08:41 GMT).

The journey, costing $520,000 (£410,000), is funded by the Australian government, with the expectation that Assange will repay the costs. A crowdfunding appeal has already raised over £277,000 in donations to help cover the expenses.