WikiLeaks Founder Julian Assange to Plead Guilty in US Case
Assange to Plead Guilty to Felony Charge
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has agreed to plead guilty to a felony charge related to his alleged role in one of the largest US government leaks in history, according to US media reports.
Deal Allows for Release
The plea deal reportedly includes an agreement that allows Assange to go free, despite facing potential decades in prison if convicted on more serious charges.
Assange, 53, has been fighting extradition from Britain to the United States since 2019, when he was arrested in London for violating bail conditions related to a Swedish sexual assault investigation that was later dropped.
The US has accused Assange of conspiring with former US intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning to obtain and release classified government documents, including diplomatic cables and military files, in 2010.
Assange's supporters have condemned the charges as politically motivated and have called for his release. A protest took place outside the Westminster Magistrates Court in London on Friday, June 24, 2024, calling for his release from Belmarsh Prison, where he has been held since his arrest.
The details of the plea deal and the specific charge to which Assange will plead guilty have not yet been made public. Assange's trial was scheduled to begin in September 2024.
Comments