Julian Assange Returns to Australia After Espionage Charge Deal
Former WikiLeaks Founder Walks Free After 12-Year Legal Battle
Assange Pleads Guilty to Espionage Charge, Greets Supporters in Australia
Julian Assange, the Australian founder of WikiLeaks, has returned home after being released from a US court following a deal with US authorities. Assange, who had been fighting extradition to the United States for over a decade, pled guilty to a single espionage charge on Wednesday and was released after serving 12 years in prison.
Assange's arrival in Australia was met with mixed reactions. Some supporters hailed him as a hero who had exposed government secrets, while others condemned him for his role in leaking classified information. Assange has vowed to continue his work with WikiLeaks, which he founded in 2006 to publish secret documents from governments and corporations.
The development comes a week after Assange was granted an appeal in the High Court against his extradition to the US. He was facing 18 espionage charges and one charge of computer misuse in the US, which could have resulted in a sentence of up to 175 years in prison.
The deal between Assange and US authorities has been met with criticism from some observers, who argue that it sets a dangerous precedent for the prosecution of journalists. Others have welcomed the resolution of the long-running case, which they believe will allow Assange to continue his work as a journalist.
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