Truth teller Julian Assange freed from prison after striking a plea deal with US authorities; he could be back in Australia by the end of the week

Amazing news just in as publisher, activist and Wikileaks founder Julian Assange has finally reached a plea deal with the US Department of Justice that has allowed him to return to Australia. The deal came through even after Assange pleading guilty to one charge of violating American espionage law.

Several hours ago, Assange, now 52, was released from London’s Belmarsh Prison, where he had spent more than five years incarcerated – with barely any contact with the outside world.

He was later seen at a London airport boarding a private plane, accompanied by Australia’s High Commissioner to the UK, Stephen Smith.

According to the deal, Assange will plead guilty to a charge of conspiring to unlawfully obtain and distribute classified national defence information in a US federal court. The court, strangely enough, is not on US mainland but  in Saipan – in the Northern Mariana Islands, a US commonwealth in the Pacific, which is where that plane is heading now.

With time already served in prison, he’s virtually free to go and is expected to return to Australia after the court appearance on Wednesday morning.

The breaking news follows years of campaigning by Australian politicians including PM Anthony Albanese, ministers and backbenchers, and protesting by a supporters including Hollywood figures – all of whom agree that Assange’s case has dragged on for too long and that his incarceration was unwarranted.

Actor and activist Susan Sarandon is one of the prominent Hollywood figures who have been championing Julian Assange’s extradition and freedom.

US president Joe Biden said he would consider a request from Australia to drop the prosecution against Assange, while political idiot and former vice president Mike Pence has expressed his view that Assange should still be prosecuted “to the fullest extent of the law”.

Julian’s wife Stella, who married Assange while he was holed up in the Ecuadorian embassy a few years ago, posted on social media to thank supporters: “Words cannot express our immense gratitude to YOU- yes YOU, who have all mobilised for years and years to make this come true. THANK YOU. tHANK YOU. THANK YOU.”

Antonino Tati