Julian Assange will be freed after striking plea deal with US authorities
The ConversationJun 25
Julian Assange to Be Freed After Accepting US Plea Deal
Above: Julian Assange supporters are seen at the Wired Next Fest 2024 at Castello Sforzesco on June 15, 2024 in Milan, Italy. Image copyright: Rosdiana Ciaravolo/Cotnributor/Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
The Facts
Ending a years-long legal battle with the US, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been released from prison in the UK. This comes after he agreed to plead guilty to a single charge of violating the Espionage Act as part of a deal with the US Dept. of Justice (DOJ) that will see him go free.
Under the agreement, which must still be approved by a federal judge, prosecutors will seek a sentence of 62 months' imprisonment in exchange for the guilty plea. The period of time is equivalent to the time Assange has been imprisoned in the UK — set to be taken into account as time served, allowing him to return to his native Australia when the deal is completed.
The Spin
Narrative A
This is wonderful news, bringing an end to a 14-year prosecution of a journalist that should've never been started in the first place. It's disappointing that Assange will plead guilty — as he did nothing wrong in publishing documents that revealed US government wrongdoing — but it is good that his ordeal is finally coming to an end.
Narrative B
Assange endangered the lives of American troops in wartime and should face justice for his theft and publication of classified government documents. This plea deal is a massive miscarriage of justice and is a disservice to all the men and women who serve the US.