An emotional reunion unfolded in Canberra on Wednesday as Julian Assange, founder of WikiLeaks, returned to Australia after accepting a plea deal that brought an end to his lengthy legal saga. Supporters and family members, including his father John Shipton and wife Stella Assange, gathered to welcome him home, marking a poignant moment after years of uncertainty and legal battles.
Watch | Julian Assange’s emotional reunion with family
Assange, who departed a US court in Saipan as a free man, pleaded guilty to a single count of conspiring to obtain and disclose classified defense documents. His sentence of time served included his confinement in Belmont prison in London, effectively closing a chapter that spanned over a decade. During this time, Assange endured five years in high-security custody and seven years under asylum in the Ecuadorian embassy in London, fighting extradition to the US where he faced 18 criminal charges carrying a potential 175-year sentence.
Assange’s journey to home was aboard a chartered Bombardier jet accompanied by his legal team, UK ambassador Kevin Rudd, and UK high commissioner Stephen Smith. Upon arrival, supporters and media alike gathered at Parliament House where John Shipton expressed hope that Assange could soon resume a normal life, including meeting his two sons outside of prison for the first time.
Stella Assange seeks assistance in covering substantial debts
Stella Assange took to social media to seek assistance in covering substantial debts incurred from the chartered flight, highlighting the challenges faced even upon his release. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese acknowledged the diverse opinions among Australians regarding the plea deal but emphasized widespread support for Assange’s release.
“This has been a successful outcome that I believe, overwhelmingly, Australians did want to see,” stated Albanese, reflecting on the government’s efforts to secure Assange’s return. The prime minister had engaged with US President Joe Biden and led bipartisan efforts urging for Assange’s freedom, culminating in today’s homecoming.
Outside the courtroom, Assange embraced his lawyer Jennifer Robinson, with Rudd in the background, in a scene shared by WikiLeaks symbolizing relief and triumph. Robinson thanked global supporters and the Australian government for their roles in achieving this milestone, emphasizing its significance for press freedom worldwide.
“As Julian Assange returns home to Australia, it stands as a beacon of hope for journalists and publishers imprisoned globally,” Robinson affirmed, echoing sentiments of relief and optimism shared among Assange’s supporters and advocates worldwide.
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