Julian Assange agrees plea deal, leaves UK prison and heads to US territory - BBC News

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Written by Owen Amos, this blog has been revised.

All the hours mentioned are based on UK time.

Julian Assange's Wife Speaks To BBC

Our coworkers at Radio 4 recently interviewed Stella Assange, the spouse of the founder of Wikileaks.

Bangkok Security High For Assange's Saipan Flight

I have been exploring the vicinity of Don Mueang International Airport in Bangkok for the last couple of hours. Just to let you know, Assange's aircraft is being refueled here before he departs for Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands.

Security measures in the area have been increased since approximately 10:30 in the morning, only a couple of hours prior to the arrival of Assange's aircraft. The private terminal for private jets is currently peaceful and devoid of much activity.

Several officials and Thai journalists from different news organizations were present, but we were eventually asked to leave the private terminal area.

Assange is completely hidden from view outside the terminal and it is probable that he will stay inside because of immigration rules.

What's Going On With Julian Assange?

It is currently 08:30 in London, 17:30 in Sydney, and the Northern Mariana Islands (an American territory in the Pacific).

The creator of Wikileaks, Julian Assange, has been released from prison in the UK and is currently traveling to the Northern Mariana Islands through Bangkok.

Julian Assange's Top Priority: 'getting Healthy Again'

Stella Assange mentioned that she hasn't had a chance to talk about their plans once Julian Assange is released.

She says that the most important thing right now is for her husband to regain his health because he has been in a very bad condition for the past five years.

The couple plans to connect with nature, according to her.

Just a quick note, Assange plans to relocate to Australia once the court in the Northern Mariana Islands approves his agreement.

Kids Unaware Of Julian Assange's Upcoming Release

Stella Assange is currently sharing information about how their young children, who are five and seven years old, are responding to the possibility of their father being released.

She explains that there is nothing stopping a five or seven-year-old from shouting out the news at any time, so they do not yet know that their father is going to be released since the judge still needs to approve the agreement.

Assange is slowly and steadily sharing information with them.

"She is thrilled to be in Australia," she says, mentioning that they traveled from London not long ago.

What Caused The Breakthrough?

Now, Stella Assange discusses the legal proceedings that led to Julian Assange's departure from the UK. He had spent over five years in a British jail while resisting extradition to the United States.

She explains that she believes a significant moment occurred when the High Court in London started to examine his constitutional rights to freedom of the press.

At that moment, we witnessed a significant development regarding a consensus reached by the parties.

Julian Assange To Admit Guilt For One Charge

Stella Assange tells Mishal Husain that she is restricted in what she can disclose about the tentative deal with the US Department of Justice.

However, she has verified that the agreement involves Julian Assange admitting guilt to a single charge connected to the Espionage Act.

When questioned about whether he will be released, Stella Assange reiterates that a judge in the Northern Mariana Islands must approve it before he can be considered a free man.

“When the judge approves it, then it becomes officially true,” she explains.

Stella Assange Agrees 'in Principle' With US DOJ

Stella Assange mentioned that Julian and the Department of Justice have tentatively agreed on a deal.

However, she mentions that the judge in the Northern Mariana Islands still needs to approve this - just a reminder, this area is a part of the United States located in the southern Pacific Ocean.

Assange's Wife Describes Whirlwind Emotions

Stella Assange expressed her happiness on the Today programme, saying she is "overjoyed - honestly, it's amazing, it doesn't feel like it's happening".

Talking to the BBC from Australia, she says it has been a rollercoaster of feelings.

When questioned about the recent days, she describes them as uncertain and mentions that the past three days have been continuous and busy.

Tune In To Stella Assange's Live Talk

Our friends at BBC Radio 4 will be interviewing Stella, Julian Assange's spouse.

Tune in and listen live by clicking the play button at the top of the page - we will provide a summary of the most important information here.

Stella Assange Shares Video Chat With Spouse

We are excited to announce that Stella, the wife of Julian Assange, will be sharing her thoughts on the BBC Radio 4 Today show. Tune in to listen to her live by clicking on the play button at the top of the page.

Within the last thirty minutes, she shared a picture on X showcasing a video chat from Sydney with her spouse, who departed the UK on Monday.

In the description, she mentioned that the picture displayed "Julian making a call to Sydney from Stansted airport last night (his day)."

Being Australian Doesn't Guarantee He's A Good Guy

We previously shared some responses from the Australian community regarding Julian Assange's release, which were mostly favorable.

Now, let's offer you an alternative point of view.

According to ex-Australian foreign minister Alexander Downer, the majority of people in Australia do not view Assange as a journalist.

"We can confidently state that he committed a highly egregious crime," he informs the BBC Radio 4 Today show.

Many Australians believe that releasing confidential national security information is unethical, as governments need to maintain a level of privacy in their communication.

He continues, "I believe most Australians do not feel sorry for him. Just being Australian doesn't automatically make him a decent person."

Assange Arrives In Bangkok - AFP

Assange's flight landed at Bangkok's Don Mueang airport at approximately 12:30 in the afternoon local time (05:30 GMT, 06:30 BST), as reported by the news agency AFP.

The aircraft will be restocked and filled with fuel before taking off for Saipan island in the Northern Mariana Islands, which is a United States territory in the southern Pacific Ocean. The departure time is scheduled for 9:00 PM local time, with the plane expected to arrive at Saipan island early on Wednesday.

This video captures the exact moment his aircraft touched down in Thailand.

Julian Assange's Guilt Plea?

Julian Assange has come to an agreement with US authorities which will result in him admitting guilt for breaking the Espionage Act.

The founder of Wikileaks is set to make an appearance in a courtroom in the US territory of the Northern Mariana Islands this Wednesday, as stated in legal papers.

American legal officials initially sought to prosecute Assange for 18 offenses, primarily under the Espionage Act, due to the disclosure of classified American military documents concerning the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

In a document detailing 18 accusations, the US government alleged in 2019 that the founder of Wikileaks conspired to illegally access US military databases in order to obtain confidential information.

Assange is claiming he did not commit the crimes and argues that the disclosure of information was a journalistic endeavor.

However, on Wednesday, Assange will only face one charge of conspiring to acquire and reveal classified US national defense documents, as stated in court documents.

According to a report by CBS News, prosecutors from the Justice Department have suggested a 62-month prison term after the defendant pleaded guilty.

Assange will not have to go to a US prison because, according to the deal, the time he spent imprisoned in the UK will be taken into account.

Assange's lawyers warned that if found guilty of all 18 charges, he could potentially be sentenced to 175 years in prison. The US government, however, suggested a shorter sentence of four to six years.

Highlights From Wikileaks Statement

During the wee hours of the morning in the United Kingdom, Wikileaks shared a message on X. Here are the important points from it:

Summary: Julian, editor-in-chief of Wikileaks, faced consequences for exposing government corruption and injustices. He is now returning to Australia, grateful for those who supported him in the fight for freedom of information.

'Aussies React To Assange's Release'

People living in Sydney are responding to the announcement that Julian Assange has been released from prison in the UK. One person mentioned that Assange had a difficult time and expressed joy that he will be returning to Australia.

Another person expressed their belief that Assange had committed significant violations, but they also felt that he had already paid the price for his actions.

What Makes Northern Mariana Islands Special?

Julian Assange is expected to confirm his guilt on Wednesday in a special location - a US district court in the Mariana Islands, a territory of the United States in the southern Pacific Ocean.

According to a statement from the Department of Justice (DOJ), it appears that Assange is not willing to come to the US for his plea agreement. The letter states that he is not willing to return to the mainland USA on his own accord. Assange has a strong lack of confidence in the US government, even going as far as claiming that officials may be planning to harm him.

Additionally, from a practical standpoint, the islands are a good option because they are in close proximity to Australia. They are situated approximately 2,000 miles (3,200km) away. The Department of Justice anticipates that he will go back to his home country shortly after agreeing to the plea deal.

US Lawmakers Saddened By Lengthy Jail Time

Congressman Jim McGovern, a member of the Democratic party, and Republican Congressman Thomas Massie from Kentucky are part of a united group of politicians in Washington DC advocating for the release of Assange. They have released official statements on the matter.

I believe that Julian Assange did not violate espionage laws. I do not think he deserved to be charged at all," stated McGovern on X.

I am concerned that this agreement will create a negative example for future cases. However, I am relieved that this difficult experience has come to an end so he can now go back to Australia and be with his loved ones while focusing on his well-being.

Massie called Assange's release "fantastic news" and expressed disappointment that he has already been in jail for a significant amount of time. Massie believes that the prosecution of Assange by Obama, Trump, and Biden should never have happened.

Assange's Freedom: A Sure Thing?

Fans of Assange from all over the globe are beginning to cheer at the possibility of his freedom, but his inner circle is reminding everyone to remain vigilant until the judge in the Northern Mariana Islands officially approves his release tomorrow.

According to a recent statement from WikiLeaks, the agreement has not been officially completed yet.

Additionally, Stella, the wife of Assange, has emphasized the challenge of making plans or preparing for the near future due to the rapid pace of events.

Yet, the documentation submitted to the court in relation to his case does suggest that Assange may soon be released, assuming there are no unexpected legal issues.

Albanese: Australia Used 'all Channels' To Free Assange

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese discussed Assange's possible release for the first time during a parliamentary session on Tuesday.

As mentioned in a previous update, he provided us with additional information about the support that Australian officials are providing to Assange as he travels to the Northern Mariana Islands for his court hearing tomorrow.

He also mentioned the long history of supporting and diplomacy that has been happening out of the public eye.

"We have actively represented and supported the interests of Australia through various communication platforms to achieve a favorable result, and I have been doing so since the beginning of my time as Prime Minister," he stated.

I will share more information once the legal process is finished. I am hoping it will wrap up soon, and I will provide an update when it's appropriate.

At the beginning of the year, the Australian parliament approved a resolution - supported by Albanese - urging for Assange to be brought back to Australia.