Assange, WikiLeaks Founder, Returns to Australia as a Free Man Following US Agreement

June 27, 2024

Updated: June 27, 2024

CANBERRA — Julian Assange,‍ the⁢ founder⁣ of WikiLeaks, arrived‌ in Australia on Wednesday to a jubilant reception, following his admission of guilt to breaching U.S. espionage law. ‍This admission has finally brought‌ an end ‌to his 14-year legal ⁢ordeal.

Assange ‍stepped off a private⁢ jet at ⁢Canberra airport just past⁣ 7:30 p.m. local time, acknowledging the media and his enthusiastic supporters with a wave. He then shared a passionate kiss with his wife, Stella ‌Assange, lifting her off the ground in a moment of ⁣joy.

He shared a warm embrace ‍with his father before proceeding into the terminal building accompanied by⁢ his legal team.

Since his release, Assange has remained silent publicly and did ‌not make an appearance ‌at a ⁣Wikileaks press ⁣conference held at‌ a ‍Canberra ⁢hotel. Stella Assange, his wife, stated‌ that it was too early⁤ to speculate on her⁤ husband’s next steps.

“Julian needs⁢ time to heal, ⁢to⁢ acclimate to his newfound freedom,” ‌she expressed. “I want Julian to ‌have the space he needs to truly ⁣appreciate this freedom.”

She also ⁢expressed⁣ her belief that her husband‌ would eventually receive a pardon.

Australia’s‍ Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, who has been a ⁤staunch advocate for Assange’s freedom, confirmed that he had a phone conversation with him after ‍his plane touched down.

“We ⁢had‍ a heartfelt‌ conversation this‍ evening, and he was very appreciative of the efforts made by the Australian government,” Albanese shared⁢ at an earlier press conference.

“The ⁤Australian government stands up for its citizens, that’s our duty.”

The‍ End of a Long ‌Legal ⁢Struggle

Assange’s return to Australia marks the end ‍of a long and‌ tumultuous journey, which saw him spend over five⁢ years in a high-security British prison and seven years⁣ seeking ⁢asylum⁣ at the Ecuadorean embassy in London. He was fighting extradition to‌ Sweden over sexual‌ assault allegations and to ⁢the U.S., where he⁣ faced‍ 18 criminal charges.

The charges were ‌related ‍to WikiLeaks’ 2010 release of hundreds of thousands of classified U.S. military documents concerning the ‌wars in Afghanistan and Iraq⁤ — ‌one of the most significant leaks of classified information in U.S. history.

During a three-hour hearing in the U.S. territory of Saipan, Assange⁢ admitted to one criminal count of conspiring to obtain and disclose classified national ‍defence⁣ documents. However, he maintained that he believed his actions‌ were protected by the⁢ U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment, which safeguards free⁤ speech.

“As ⁣a journalist, I encouraged my source to provide information ⁤that was⁣ classified so that I could publish it,” he explained to the⁤ court.

“I believed that the First Amendment protected this activity, but I now⁣ accept that it was a violation⁣ of⁣ the espionage statute.”

Chief U.S. District⁢ Judge Ramona V. Manglona accepted his guilty⁤ plea, noting that the U.S. government had indicated there were no personal victims resulting from Assange’s actions.

She wished Assange, who will ‍turn ⁢53 on‍ July 3, an early happy birthday as she released him due to the time he had already ⁢served in ‌a British prison.

Seen as a Champion‍ of ‌Free Speech

While the U.S. government viewed Assange as‌ reckless for endangering its agents by‍ publishing their names, his supporters hailed⁢ him as a champion of free speech and ‌a⁤ whistleblower of war crimes.

“We firmly believe that ⁢Mr. Assange should never‌ have been charged under the ‌Espionage Act for engaging in activities that journalists undertake every day,” his U.S. lawyer, Barry Pollack, told‌ reporters ⁢outside the court.

He assured that the‍ work ‌of WikiLeaks would continue.

Assange’s British and ⁢Australian lawyer, Jennifer Robinson,⁣ expressed her gratitude to the Australian government for securing Assange’s release. His father, John Shipton, told Reuters he was relieved.

“The fact that⁣ Julian can return home to Australia, see his family regularly, and enjoy the ⁣simple pleasures of ⁢life is a blessing,” Shipton expressed‌ in Canberra, where he was awaiting his son’s arrival.

“The beauty of the ordinary is the ⁣essence of life.”

‘A Disturbing⁢ Precedent’

Assange agreed⁢ to plead guilty to a ⁤single criminal count,‌ according to filings in the⁢ U.S. District ⁢Court ⁣for the Northern Mariana Islands.

The ⁢U.S.‌ territory in the western Pacific was chosen due to his opposition ‌to traveling to mainland U.S. and ‍its proximity to Australia, prosecutors explained.

Australian politicians ‍who had campaigned for his release expressed‌ concern about the guilty plea‍ on⁣ U.S. soil, arguing that he was ⁢a‌ journalist who ‍had been convicted for doing his job.

“This sets a disturbing precedent.‍ It’s the ⁢kind of⁢ thing we’d‍ expect in an authoritarian or totalitarian⁢ country,”‍ said Andrew Wilkie,⁤ an independent‌ lawmaker ⁢who ⁤led a parliamentary group advocating for Assange.

Assange spent over five years in what Judge Manglona described⁢ as one of Britain’s most severe prisons and seven years confined in the‌ Ecuadorean embassy in London as he fought extradition.

During his time at‍ the embassy, he⁣ fathered two sons with Stella, who was one ⁣of his lawyers. They were ‌married in 2022 at Belmarsh prison in London.