Canberra (Australia): Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, returned to his home country of Australia just hours ago after 14 years. Assange fled Australia in 2010 and has since been involved in legal battles and imprisonment in various countries. Initially, he was in the UK, then sought asylum in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, and most recently, he was held in Belmarsh Prison in London.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed his satisfaction with the plea deal and Assange’s return. “I was pleased to speak with Julian Assange to welcome him home to his family in Australia,” said Albanese on X. The Prime Minister also thanked the US and UK for facilitating Assange’s return, noting that the case had dragged on for too long.
Assange’s legal battle concluded in a US court in the Northern Mariana Islands, Saipan, a Pacific US territory. There, he admitted to revealing US defence secrets, a deal that secured his release from Belmarsh Prison. As part of the agreement, Assange is banned from returning to the United States without permission, according to the US Department of Justice.
The Department of Justice stated in a letter to the chief judge of the district court that Assange’s opposition to traveling to the continental United States and the proximity of the Pacific territory to Australia influenced the proceedings. Assange pleaded guilty to “conspiring to unlawfully obtain and disseminate classified information relating to the national defense of the United States” and was sentenced to five years and two months in prison, with credit for time already served in Britain.
Prime Minister Albanese welcomed the development but stressed the sensitivity of the proceedings. “This is a welcome development, but we recognise that these proceedings are sensitive and should be respected,” he said, adding that it was not appropriate to provide further commentary given the ongoing nature of the proceedings.
US prosecutors argued that Assange’s actions had recklessly endangered national security. The plea agreement with the Justice Department ensures Assange’s release and ends a prolonged legal battle that has sparked debates on press freedom and national security.
In April 2010, WikiLeaks published a video showing a US helicopter attack in Baghdad from 2007, resulting in the deaths of twelve individuals, including two journalists. This release led to the arrest of Bradley Manning, a US military specialist, in June. WikiLeaks subsequently disclosed over 91,000 documents related to the war in Afghanistan in July and approximately 400,000 classified US military files detailing the Iraq war from 2004 to 2009 in October.
Stella Assange, Julian’s wife, commented on the US case against him: “I hope journalists, editors, and publishers everywhere realize the danger of the US case against Julian that criminalizes newsgathering and publishing information that was true and that the public deserved to know.”
Assange and Stella’s Relationship
Julian Assange and Stella Moris met in 2011 when she joined his legal team. Their relationship began in 2015 while Assange was living in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London. They have two sons together, Gabriel (born in 2017) and Max (born in 2019). The couple married in March 2022 in a small ceremony at Belmarsh Prison. Moris has been a vocal advocate for Assange’s release and has campaigned against his extradition to the United States. Despite the challenges of Assange’s legal battles and confinement, Moris has remained a steadfast supporter.
Why Julian Assange Chose Saipan
- Proximity to Australia: Saipan, a US territory in the Northern Mariana Islands, is the closest US jurisdiction to Assange’s home country, Australia, facilitating easier travel for him and his family.
- Avoiding Mainland US Jurisdiction: By choosing Saipan, Assange avoided the full jurisdiction of mainland US courts, potentially reducing legal risks and complications.
- Opposition to Mainland Travel: Assange had expressed opposition to traveling to the continental US for legal proceedings. Saipan offered a compromise, allowing him to fulfill legal obligations while staying outside the mainland.
These factors, combined with logistical and legal strategies, likely influenced Assange’s decision to choose Saipan for the resolution of his case.
What’s Next
Julian Assange wishes to spend a few days with his family. After fulfilling his remaining legal obligations, he plans to resume WikiLeaks’ operations. His colleagues state that Assange’s goal is to develop WikiLeaks into an independent international media organization.
INFORMATIVE | Most expensive substance worth $62.5 trillion per gram!