A plane believed to be carrying WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has landed in Bangkok, as he is on his way to enter a plea deal with the U.S. government. The chartered plane VJT199 landed at Don Mueang International Airport, and Assange is expected to continue traveling to the Northern Mariana Islands for a court appearance.
Assange is anticipated to plead guilty to an Espionage Act charge of conspiring to unlawfully obtain and disseminate classified national defense information. This plea deal will bring an end to a legal case that has spanned years and continents.
After the plea and sentencing, Assange is expected to return to his home country of Australia. The hearing is set to take place in Saipan, the largest island in the Northern Marianas, due to Assange's opposition to traveling to the continental U.S. and the court's proximity to Australia.
The deal ensures that Assange will admit guilt but will be spared from additional prison time. He had spent years in the Ecuadorian embassy in London and later in a high-security British prison while fighting extradition to the U.S.
Assange's case has been a subject of international intrigue, with supporters hailing him as a hero for exposing military wrongdoing, while prosecutors accused him of damaging national security by publishing classified documents.
The plea agreement comes after President Joe Biden considered a request from Australia to drop the U.S. prosecution of Assange. The White House was not directly involved in the decision to resolve Assange's case.
Assange's legal battles have taken a toll on his physical and mental health, with his family and supporters expressing concerns over his well-being during the prolonged legal saga.
Assange's journey from the Ecuadorian embassy to a Bangkok airport marks a significant development in a case that has garnered global attention and sparked debates about press freedom, national security, and government transparency.
