WikiLeaks says its founder, Julian Assange, has been released from prison and has left the United Kingdom, shortly after court documents revealed a plea deal that would allow him to return to Australia.
He plead guilty. The US has successfully convicted a foreign publisher under its Espionage Act. Assange, WikiLeaks and everyone on their side in this decades long struggle has ultimately lost.
WikiLeaks announced Mr Assange's whereabouts shortly after court documents showed he was due to plead guilty this week to violating US espionage law, in a deal that would allow him to return home to Australia.
WikiLeaks posted a statement on social media platform X saying Mr Assange was free and had left the UK on Monday morning local time.
Mr Assange's father, John Shipton, told ABC Victorian Mornings his son had spent 15 of his most productive years "in some form of incarceration or another".
"We are aware Australian citizen Mr Julian Assange has legal proceedings scheduled in the United States," a spokesperson said.
"Prime Minister Albanese has been clear — Mr Assange's case has dragged on for too long and there is nothing to be gained by his continued incarceration."
Many press freedom advocates have argued that criminally charging Mr Assange represents a threat to free speech.
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Its technically US soil, so he could enter his plea there in a US court, but its the closest place to Australia, because he obviously refused to step foot on the American continent.