Australian leaders have cautiously welcomed an expected plea agreement that could lead to the release of Julian Assange, who has been pursued for years over WikiLeaks' publication of classified documents. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated that there was nothing to be gained by keeping the Australian incarcerated.
Assange is anticipated to plead guilty to an Espionage Act charge of conspiring to unlawfully obtain and disseminate classified national defense information in a U.S. federal court. If the plea agreement is accepted by a judge, Assange is expected to return to Australia.
Public support for Assange has grown in Australia during the years he spent avoiding extradition to the United States. Albanese has been actively lobbying for an end to the U.S. prosecution of Assange since his government took office in 2022.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong acknowledged the advocacy efforts of various lawmakers on Assange's behalf, including those who traveled to Washington last year to call for an end to the prosecution. Wong emphasized the government's desire to see Assange reunited with his family in Australia.
Support for Assange transcended political party lines in Australia, with opposition lawmakers expressing cautious optimism about the plea deal. The motion calling for Assange's return to Australia was supported by a significant number of lawmakers in the House of Representatives.
Assange's mother and father expressed gratitude for the expected plea agreement, with his mother highlighting the importance of quiet diplomacy in resolving the situation. Assange, who had sought refuge in the Ecuadorean Embassy in 2013, may soon be free to return to Australia.
Overall, the development of the plea agreement marks a significant step in the long-running saga surrounding Julian Assange, with Australian leaders hopeful for his return to his home country.
