WIKILEAKS founder Julian Assange on Wednesday returned to his home country, Australia, a free man after admitting that he violated the U.S. Espionage Act.
Assange appeared before District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona, who sentenced him to time served of 62 months.
During the hearing, Assange said, “As a journalist, I encouraged my source to provide information that was said to be classified in order to publish that information. I believe that the [U.S. Constitution] First Amendment protected that activity, but I accept that it is a violation of the Espionage Act.”
He added, “I believe the Espionage Act is in contradiction with the First Amendment, but I accept that it will be difficult in winning such a case.”
In response, Matthew J. McKenzie said “Assange’s opinions about the First Amendment and the Espionage Act did not align with the facts. We reject those sentiments but accept that he believes them.”
McKenzie is the deputy chief of the counterintelligence and export control section of the U.S. Department of Justice-National Security Division.
Judge Manglona found Assange fully competent to enter a knowing and voluntary plea and accepted his plea of guilty.
She sentenced Assange to time served with no term of supervised release. She also waived the fine.
After the sentencing, Assange’s attorneys, Barry Pollack of the U.S. and Jennifer Robinson of Australia, held a press conference for the more than 40 media representatives outside the U.S. Courthouse.
“The prosecution of Julian Assange was unprecedented,” Pollack said. “In the 100 years of the Espionage Act, it has never been used by the United States to pursue a publisher, a journalist like Mr. Assange…. Mr. Assange revealed truthful, important, newsworthy information, including what the United States has committed — war crimes,” Pollack added.
Robinson said, “Today is an historic battle. It brings to end 14 years of legal battles and finally…Julian Assange is a free man. This also brings to an end a case that is being recognized as the greatest threat to the First Amendment….”
Local attorney Richard Miller also represented Assange.
For his part, U.S. Attorney for the Districts of Guam and NMI Shawn N. Anderson joined McKenzie at the prosecutors’ table during the hearing.
Co-conspirator
McKenzie provided the court with stipulated facts regarding Chelsea Manning, Assange’s co-conspirator.
Manning was a U.S. Army intelligence analyst who held a “Top Secret” U.S. security clearance and was deployed to forward Operating Base Hammer in Iraq.
From 2009 to 2011, the U.S. government said, Assange conspired with Manning to receive and obtain classified national defense information and disseminate it publicly.
On or about July 30, 2013, Manning was found guilty of various offenses under the Uniform Code of Military Justice for conduct relating to the crime charged in the information filed against him.
On or about August 21, 2013, Manning was sentenced to serve 35 years in prison for those crimes.
On or about January 17, 2017, President Barack Obama commuted all but four months of Manning’s sentence. Manning ultimately served approximately seven years in prison.
According to the 23-page plea agreement with Assange, following the court’s imposition of a sentence, the U.S. government agreed to promptly move to dismiss the outstanding indictment pending against Assange in the Eastern District of Virginia.
Further, following the court’s imposition of a sentence, the U.S. government agreed to withdraw its pending request to the United Kingdom for Assange’s extradition.
The U.S. government also agreed not to bring any additional charges against Assange based on conduct that occurred prior to the time of the plea agreement, unless the defendant breaches the plea agreement.
The plea agreement noted that Assange was incarcerated, pending extradition, at His Majesty’s Prison Belmarsh, the Category A men’s prison in Thamesmead, London, England
Assange entered Belmarsh in April 2019 and served approximately 62 months in prison.
Assange also agreed to the destruction of any unpublished information in his possession, custody or control or that of WikiLeaks.
At the hearing, McKenzie informed the court that Assange provided the U.S. government with an affidavit confirming the destruction of such unpublished information in his possession.
Assange also agreed to promptly leave the U.S. after his sentencing and never return without authorization.
Assange’s chartered private jet left the Saipan airport at 12:58 p.m. and arrived in Canberra, Australia at around 7:35 p.m.
On the social media platform X, WikiLeaks appealed for donations to cover the cost of the chartered private jet: $520,000, which Assange is obligated to pay back to the Australian government.
“In addition, and after 14 years of detention, including five years in maximum security prison, Julian’s health is in dire need of recovery. We are launching an emergency appeal to seek donations to help him cover the flight debt and substantial funds to ensure his recovery and well-being and safety upon his arrival. Every contribution counts,” WikiLeaks stated.
For more information, go to https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/free-julian-assange
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange arrives at a United States District Court in Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, June 26, 2024.
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange arrives at a United States District Court in Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, June 26, 2024.
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange arrives at a United States District Court in Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, June 26, 2024.
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange walks outside United States District Court following a hearing, in Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, June 26, 2024.
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange leaves the United States District Court following a hearing, in Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, June 26, 2024.
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange waves as he arrives in Canberra, Australia, June 26, 2024.
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange kisses his wife Stella Assange as he arrives in Canberra, Australia, June 26, 2024.
Julian Assange’s attorneys, Barry Pollack of the U.S. and Jennifer Robinson of Australia, conduct a press conference outside the U.S. Courthouse on Wednesday.
