WikiLeaks’ Julian Assange pleads guilty in Saipan after US plea deal
Al Jazeera
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is expected to return to Australia after his court appearance in the US Pacific territory.
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has pleaded guilty in a Saipan court to a single charge of espionage as part of a deal with the United States Justice Department that will free him to return to his native Australia.
Assange, 52, admitted a single count of conspiracy to obtain and disclose classified US national defence documents on Wednesday morning in Saipan, the capital of the Northern Mariana Islands, which is a US commonwealth territory in the Western Pacific.
The Australian arrived at court in a dark suit, with his tie loosened around the collar, after flying from the United Kingdom on a private aircraft accompanied by members of his legal team and Australian officials, including the Australian ambassador to the UK.
Inside, he answered basic questions from US District Judge Ramona Manglona, an appointee of former President Barack Obama, and appeared to listen intently as terms of the deal were discussed. As a condition of his plea, he will be required to destroy information that was provided to WikiLeaks.
Saipan was chosen for the court appearance due to Assange’s opposition to travelling to the mainland US as well as its proximity to his home in Australia, prosecutors said.
