According to media reports, Washington is preparing an offer for the Australian native. He could plead guilty to a lesser offense, more serious espionage charges would be dropped, and the 52-year-old could then be released.
The Wall Street Journal claims to have learned from insiders that the US Department of Justice is looking for ways to end Julian Assange’s years-long legal marathon. Accordingly, the ministry is considering allowing the not uncontroversial whistleblower activist (52), who comes from Australia, to plead guilty to a lesser offense. Specifically, he could admit to misuse of confidential information regarding U.S. military actions and be released from custody in Britain through such a deal.
He is currently facing up to 175 years in prison, and possibly the death penalty, in the USA for numerous charges relating to betrayal of secrets, endangering national security and espionage. He has been imprisoned in the UK since 2019 in connection with an earlier case against him in Sweden for alleged rape (now discontinued), for contempt of court, breaching bail conditions and in connection with the US allegations and the associated extradition proceedings.
Years of embassy asylum in London
Assange fled to the Ecuadorian embassy in London in 2012 and lived there for years until he was thrown out in 2019, which had political motives, but was also due to his behavior towards embassy employees. He was arrested immediately after his expulsion.
The Ecuadorian embassy in London was Assange’s refuge for years. Imago / Tom Nicholson Every now and then he even addressed his fans and supporters from there (here in May 2017). Reuters / Peter Nicholls Read more on these topics: