Julian Assange Returns to Australia After Legal Saga
Julian Assange, founder of WikiLeaks, has returned to Australia after pleading guilty to obtaining and publishing U.S. military secrets. This plea deal ends a long legal battle.
Plea Deal and Return
Assange, 52, pleaded guilty in a U.S. court in Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands. This location was chosen to avoid the continental United States.
He was charged with publishing war logs and cables revealing U.S. military misconduct, including a 2007 video of an Apache helicopter attack in Baghdad that killed 11 people, including two Reuters journalists.
Journey Back
Assange traveled from a London prison to Saipan, then to Canberra, accompanied by Australian officials Kevin Rudd and Stephen Smith. The “Assange team” covered flight expenses, with government assistance.
Government’s Role
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese credited his government’s determined work for Assange’s release after five years in a British prison.
Family and Lawyer Reactions
Assange’s lawyer, Jennifer Robinson, praised Albanese’s leadership. Another lawyer, Barry Pollack, expects Assange to continue advocating for free speech and transparency.
Assange’s father, John Shipton, hopes his son will enjoy normal life with his wife Stella and their two children.
Legal Conclusion
The plea deal required Assange to admit guilt to one felony count but allowed him to return to Australia without serving time in an American prison. The judge credited him for the five years spent in a U.K. prison.
Case Resolution
The Justice Department resolved the case without trial, addressing complex legal issues. Assange’s return marks the end of a long legal saga, allowing him to reunite with his family and continue his advocacy work.