WikiLeaks founder Assange released

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange will return to Australia as a free man after pleading guilty to a single charge in the U.S. He admitted to conspiracy related to leaking U.S. military documents after agreeing to a plea deal for time served. Assange previously spent five years in UK’s Belmarsh prison and resided in the Ecuadorian embassy in London under asylum. WikiLeaks announced his imminent departure to Canberra via social media. Charged with various offenses from the 2010 release of classified documents on the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, his actions were deemed a threat to U.S. national security by some, while others see the pursuit as an affront to journalism and free speech. In April, President Biden considered Australia’s request to dismiss the allegations against Assange.