In a significant development, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has left the UK after being released from jail after agreeing to plead guilty to a felony charge related to his alleged involvement in the largest breaches of classified material in the United States.
According to newly released court documents, a deal struck with the Justice Department will allow Assange to avoid imprisonment in the US.
The Plea Deal
The agreement reached with the Justice Department stipulates that Assange will not serve additional jail time, considering he has already spent five years in the high-security Belmarsh prison on the outskirts of London. His time served during the legal battle over extradition to the US will be taken into account. However, the plea deal remains subject to approval by a federal judge.
Allegations and Legal Battle
American prosecutors have long accused Assange of endangering lives by assisting former US Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning in stealing diplomatic cables and military files. These documents were subsequently published by WikiLeaks in 2010. The case has been closely watched, and Assange’s legal journey included seeking refuge in the Ecuadorean Embassy in London in 2012 before his eventual detention in Belmarsh prison in May 2019.
