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Writer's picturemeowdini
Jun 252 min read

Julian Assange Freed from Jail After Plea Deal with US

Julian Assange freed after over five years in UK prison following a plea deal with the US, avoids extradition and returns to Australia.

The WikiLeaks founder was freed from a London prison on Monday after more than five years and will not be extradited to the United States following a plea deal with authorities.


A person looking at the city , symbolizing Julian Assange's release from a UK prison after a plea deal with the US.
Julian Assange celebrates his release from a UK prison after more than five years, following a plea deal with US authorities.


Key Details:


  • Plea Deal Agreement:

  • Assange agreed to plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to obtain and disclose U.S. national defense information.

  • Likely to be sentenced to five years and three months served.

  • He spent over five years in London’s Belmarsh Prison since April 2019.


  • Release and Sentencing:

  • The sentencing hearing is set for June 25 at 11 pm UTC (Wednesday, 9 am local time on the island of Saipan).

  • High Court granted Assange bail.

  • Assange boarded a flight leaving the U.K. on Monday to return to Australia.

Background and Impact:


  • WikiLeaks Publications:

  • In 2010, WikiLeaks published over 700,000 classified U.S. documents and diplomatic cables on wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, leaked by Chelsea Manning.

  • In December 2010, PayPal cut off WikiLeaks’ account, prompting the switch to Bitcoin (BTC), marking Bitcoin's first mainstream attention.

  • Satoshi Nakamoto's Warning:

  • Bitcoin’s creator, Satoshi Nakamoto, warned WikiLeaks to avoid using Bitcoin to prevent undue pressure on the cryptocurrency.

  • Nakamoto’s last significant message in late December 2010 highlighted the impact of WikiLeaks’ actions.


Legal Challenges and Controversies:


  • Initial Charges:

  • Charged by Donald Trump’s administration in April 2019.

  • Assange had been in Ecuador’s embassy in London for seven years to avoid extradition to Sweden on sexual assault allegations (later dropped).

  • Prison Time:

  • Removed from the embassy and placed in Belmarsh Prison in April 2019.

  • He contested U.S. extradition while in prison.

  • Public Reaction:

  • U.S. charges sparked outrage from supporters and press freedom advocates.

  • Concerns were raised about government transparency and the criminalization of publishing information.



Julian Assange’s release marks the end of a prolonged legal battle and a significant moment for press freedom advocates.

As he returns to Australia, his case raises important questions about government transparency, freedom of the press, and the handling of classified information.


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