The founder of WikiLeaks, Julian Assange, is reportedly in discussions with the US Justice Department about a guilty plea to a lesser charge, which could avert his extradition to the US where he faces up to 175 years in prison.
The US Justice Department is reportedly engaged in discussions with Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, about a potential guilty plea to a lesser charge. According to The Wall Street Journal, preliminary talks have been ongoing between US officials and Assange’s legal representation, focusing on negotiating a plea that would involve admitting to mishandling classified information. This development could potentially lead to Assange avoiding extradition to the US, where he faces 18 charges under the Espionage Act that could result in a prison sentence of up to 175 years.
Assange has been embroiled in legal battles over the US’s attempts to extradite him from the UK, owing to his role in the 2010 release of confidential US military records and diplomatic cables. The publication of these documents by WikiLeaks has been a subject of controversy, with the US arguing that it endangered lives, while Assange’s supporters maintain that it was important for exposing wrongdoing in conflicts such as those in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Since his arrest in 2019 following a stay at the Ecuadorian embassy in London, Assange has been held in a UK prison. Human rights organizations, media outlets, and leaders from several countries have called for the dismissal of the charges against him.
As Assange’s legal team awaits a decision from the High Court regarding a further right to appeal, the discussions about a possible plea deal represent a new chapter in this high-profile case. The negotiations and their potential outcome hold significant implications for press freedom, US-UK relations, and the Biden administration’s handling of a politically sensitive matter initiated by the Trump administration’s decision to press charges against Assange.
