Julian Assange LATEST: Wikileaks to give press conference in Australia after founder strikes plea deal to return to homeland as a 'free man' despite admitting espionage charge in US-controlled court

2 months ago 13

By Jamie Bullen

Published: 09:01 BST, 26 June 2024 | Updated: 09:55 BST, 26 June 2024

Julian Assange today returns to Australia as a 'free man' despite being convicted of espionage after agreeing a plea deal to bring the curtain down on his 14 year legal saga.

Mr Assange had been wanted by US authorities following the disclosure of thousands of classified military documents in 2010 and spent more than five years in a British high-security prison after seven years holed up at the Ecuadorean embassy in London.

The WikiLeaks founder was released without probation or supervision from a US federal court on the Pacific island of Saipan with a criminal conviction for espionage which has now been banned from entering America.

He flew by private jet to Canberra, the Australian capital, where he is expected to land around 7.30pm local time (9.30am UK time). Wikileaks have scheduled a press conference at a hotel in the city at 9.15pm (12.15pm).

Follow MailOnline's live coverage of the press conference below

Breaking:Pictured: Assange to land in next hour

WikiLeaks has released a picture of Julian Assange speaking to wife Stella as he prepares to land in Canberra.

The company has scheduled a press conference in the capital for 12.15pm UK time.

Assange's brother to launch campaign for pardon

Julian Assange's brother has said he will campaign for the WikiLeaks founder to be pardoned after he was convicted of espionage in a US court.

The conviction means Mr Assange is banned from entering the US and would require special permission for visits

Gabriel Shipton told the BBC:

We're going to campaign now for a pardon for Julian

We're going to be asking President Biden for a pardon, so that this conviction can be taken off the books.

You know our allies in the Congress, Representative Jim McGovern has already tweeted out that this is a very very concerning precedent for people in the United States.

Assange's lawyer - We did it

Jennifer Robinson, a human rights lawyer who has represented Mr Assange for more than a decade, shared a picture of herself and the Wikileaks founder to say she can't wait to touch down in Australia.

Ms Robinson also represented Amber Heard in Johnny Depp's 2020 libel case against The Sun.

Australian Prime Minister - I'm pleased he is on his way home

NewsWire / Martin Ollman 13570551

Anthony Albanese, Australia's Prime Minister, has addressed his country's parliament following the outcome of the Julian Assange case.

He said:

Regardless of your views about his activities – and they will be varied – Mr Assange’s case has dragged on for too long. I have said repeatedly that there was nothing to be gained by his continued incarceration. I am pleased that he is on his way home to Australia to reunite with his family here.

Over the two years since we took office my government has engaged and advocated, including at leader level, to resolve this. We have used all appropriate channels [and] this outcome has been the product of careful, patient and determined work.

The Australian government continues to provide consular assistance to Mr Assange as he returns home.

WikiLeaks to host press conference in Canberra

WikiLeaks, the publisher of leaked documents founded by Mr Assange, has scheduled a press conference in Canberra tonight.

The company has not specified whether Mr Assange will speak at the event or even be in attendance but takes place around a couple of hours after his arrival into the country.

Earlier, Wikileaks shared an image of Mr Assange embracing his lawyer Jennifer Robinson, moments after his plea deal was finalised.

When will Assange return to Australia?

After he was released from court, Mr Assange left Saipan on a private jet to the Australian capital Canberra, where he is expected to land around 7:30pm (10.30am UK time), according to flight logs.

The island is about six hours away from Australia by plane and was chosen as a location for Mr Assange's hearing owing to its proximity to his homeland.

Speaking to Reuters news agency in Canberra, his father John Shipton said:

That Julian can come home to Australia and see his family regularly and do the ordinary things of life is a treasure. The beauty of the ordinary is the essence of life.

See this video explainer below:

Watch: Julian Assange leaves court after he is released as a free man

We can also bring you footage of the moment Mr Assange's 14-year legal saga came to an end of the US island of Saipan.

See the video below:

Pictures: Julian Assange released from US federal court

Here are some of the most striking photographs following Mr Assange's release from court on the island of Saipan.

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange walks outside United States District Court following a hearing, in Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, U.S., June 26, 2024. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji

Julian Assange in court: What happened?

During a three-hour hearing in Saipan, Mr Assange pleaded guilty to one criminal count of conspiring to obtain and disclose classified national defence documents but said he had believed the US Constitution's First Amendment, which protects free speech, shielded his activities.

He told the court:

Working as a journalist I encouraged my source to provide information that was said to be classified in order to publish that information.

I believed the First Amendment protected that activity but I accept that it was... a violation of the espionage statute.

Chief US District Judge Ramona Manglona accepted his guilty plea, noting that the U.S. government indicated there was no personal victim from Assange's actions

The judge said:

You will be able to walk out of this courtroom a free man. I hope there will be some peace restored

Given the factual basis that accounts the whole saga of events that constitutes the basis for this very serious espionage charge against you…I am in fact sentencing you to a period of time served.

Read: Julian Assange breaks down in tears as judge declares him 'a free man'

Firstly, let's recap what happened earlier as Mr Assange walked free from court after pleading guilty to a single espionage charge.

The WikiLeaks founder was released without probation or supervision after a hearing in a US federal court on the Pacific island of Saipan.

However, he is banned from entering the US ever again without permission from American authorities.

Read Nic White and Perkin Amalaraj's story here:

Welcome to our live Julian Assange coverage

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of Julian Assange's return to Australia following his release from a US federal court.

Mr Assange will arrive in his homeland 'a free man' after agreeing to a plea deal which has brought an end to his 14-year legal saga which has seen him incarcerated in a high-security prison and South American embassy in the UK.

The 52-year-old is expected to arrive in Canberra in the next hour and a press conference hosted by Wikileaks is taking place later on.

We will bring you all the latest updates on Mr Assange's return plus pictures, videos and the best reaction from social media.

Key Updates