Julian Assange, the 52-year-old founder of WikiLeaks, has been released following a plea deal with US prosecutors, marking the end of his 12-year legal saga. Assange, who had been confined for over a decade, including time spent in London's Belmarsh Prison and Ecuador's UK embassy, returned to Australia as a free man. His release is seen as a victory for whistleblowers, although concerns remain about the US government's use of the Espionage Act to prosecute journalists. Assange's accuser, Anna Ardin, and his US attorney, Barry Pollack, have both commented on the case. The plea deal that led to his release involved delicate negotiations between Assange's legal team and US prosecutors. Assange is now enjoying his first weekend of freedom in Canberra, where David McBride, another whistleblower, felt his spirits lifted by the news. Australia's fight against the US to secure Assange's freedom played a significant role in his release.
Julian Assange's brother says it's "very surreal and overwhelming" to have him back after more than a decade in captivity, first in Ecuador's U.K. embassy and later in London's Belmarsh Prison. https://t.co/fpYbO5acN1
As Julian Assange landed in Canberra a free man, David McBride watched from prison and felt his โspirits liftedโ https://t.co/KS1STblnrt
"What sends a chilling precedent is the prosecution - the fact that the United States elected to charge Mr Assange with violating the Espionage Act." Julian's US attorney Barry Pollack speaking just after the plea deal was signed. Watch: https://t.co/MJqVgR5FQB
Julian Assange spent years in captivity in London before plea deal talks accelerated this spring, allowing the WikiLeaks founder to go home to Australia a free man. Hereโs what led to the end of a long, strange legal journey. https://t.co/euBIeBru7B
#World360 | Wikileaks Founder Julian Assange's tight hug for wife as he returns home a free man #Wikileaks #JulianAssange #Espionage | @akankshaswarups https://t.co/Sn6Q6W9e0I
Assangeโs Release: Exposing the Craven Media Stable "[U]se the spoils from Assange... Never, however, admit that Assange is himself a journalist with more journalism awards than many have had hot dinners." https://t.co/vYmwFH74v5
How delicate talks led to the unlikely end of Julian Assange's 12-year saga https://t.co/wRihGIDFRB
Things to know about how Julian Assange and US prosecutors arrived at a plea deal to end his case https://t.co/4JIUTSkyyN
Release of #JulianAssange: Victory of whistle-blowers Watch #World360 with @akankshaswarups at 6:30 PM only on CNN-News18 https://t.co/5fUPlYoCSQ
A Swedish woman who accused WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange of sexual assault has spoken out about the 52-year-old's return to Australia following his extraordinary plea deal in the US. https://t.co/43PHJspfHm
The Wikileaks founder is enjoying the first weekend of his new found freedom after spending more than a decade in confinement overseas. MORE ๐ https://t.co/cq2NPBA8D3 https://t.co/M1i0YB5JLG
Julian Assange accuser Anna Ardin speaks out on the WikiLeaks founder's jail release @australian https://t.co/d3b44zJe7q via @australian
โInside the Assange plea dealโ | The Dissenter https://t.co/BWObZdDoBZ
Julian Assange What secrets did he give up to get his โfreedomโ? ๐
#Assange release: Inside story of #Australia's fight against U.S. to secure whistleblower's freedom | Watch https://t.co/dFC9ZmlWt9
WHISPeR Statement on Assange Plea Deal: Julian Assange is free โ the press is not https://t.co/QU00vJPLWH
Julian Assange is free @WashTimesOpEd https://t.co/OC0eaAedek
After years of persecution for exposing US war crimes, Julian Assange is free. While this is an undeniable victory, the US government's use of the Espionage Act to silence whistleblowers remains a serious threat to the future of journalism. https://t.co/TGO22UC9Xd
Julian Assange is finally a free man. Here's a look at the WikiLeaks founder's long journey to freedom: https://t.co/v5ve38YCDe