WikiLeaks founder, Julian Assange, has reached a plea agreement with President Joe Biden’s administration that will allow him to avoid imprisonment in the United States.
According to newly filed federal court documents, Assange has agreed to plead guilty to a felony charge related to his alleged involvement in one of the largest breaches of classified US government material.
Under the terms of the agreement, Justice Department prosecutors will seek a 62-month sentence. This duration matches the time Assange has already served in a high-security prison in London while contesting extradition to the US.
With this plea deal, Assange will receive credit for the time served, enabling his immediate return to Australia, his home country.
However, the plea deal still requires approval from a federal judge before it can be finalised.
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Assange faced an 18-count indictment from 2019 for his alleged role in the breach, which carried a potential maximum sentence of up to 175 years in prison, although it was unlikely he would have received the full sentence.
The US pursued Assange for publishing confidential military records provided by former Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning in 2010 and 2011.