The United States has dropped charges against WikiLeaks founder, Julian Assange after five years of legal battle.
Assange has departed the UK following intervention of Australia that led to a deal with US authorities which will allow him to plead guilty to criminal charges but will serve no time in US custody.
Assange was charged with conspiracy to obtain and disclose national defense information, related to WikiLeaks’ release of files on the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, which the US argued endangered lives. After spending five years in a British prison fighting extradition to the US, Assange has finally reached an agreement allowing him to return to Australia.
The deal, according to the BBC, ensures that Assange receives credit for his time spent incarcerated in the UK. A letter from the US Department of Justice states that Assange will not spend any time in US custody.
WikiLeaks announced on the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) that Assange left Belmarsh prison on Monday after 1,901 days.
He was released at Stansted Airport in the afternoon, where he boarded a plane to Australia. Video footage shared by WikiLeaks appears to show Assange, dressed casually, being driven to Stansted before boarding the aircraft.
Stella Assange, Julian’s wife, expressed her gratitude to supporters on X, acknowledging the years of mobilization that led to this moment.
Speaking to the BBC’s Today program, she described the days leading up to the US deal as “touch-and-go” and “non-stop,” filled with a whirlwind of emotions.
The plea deal, involving a single charge under the Espionage Act, is expected to be finalized in a court in the Northern Mariana Islands on Wednesday, June 26.
The Northern Mariana Islands, a US commonwealth in the Pacific, are significantly closer to Australia than the US mainland.
Stella Assange noted that the deal’s critical aspect was the inclusion of “time served,” allowing Julian to walk free upon judicial approval.
Her primary concern now is for her husband to regain his health and for the family to have time and privacy.
She mentioned that their two children are already in Australia and are unaware of their father’s impending release, having been told only about a “big surprise.”
The Australian government has expressed relief over the resolution, with a spokesperson stating that the case had “dragged on for too long.”
Assange’s attorney, Richard Miller, declined to comment when contacted by CBS, while the BBC also reached out to his US-based lawyer.
Assange and his legal team have long argued that the charges against him were politically motivated.
In April, US President Joe Biden considered a request from Australia to drop the prosecution, and in May, the UK High Court ruled that Assange could appeal against extradition to the US, challenging assurances over the conduct of his prospective trial and his free speech rights.
WikiLeaks, founded by Assange in 2006, claims to have published over 10 million documents, marking one of the largest compromises of classified information in US history.
The website gained significant attention in 2010 after releasing a video showing the killing of Iraqi civilians by a US military helicopter, including two Reuters journalists.
Throughout his legal battles, Assange has rarely been seen in public and has reportedly suffered from poor health, including a small stroke in prison in 2021.
His release marks the end of a tumultuous chapter, with the focus now on his recovery and future with his family.
