AP Photo/Kin Cheung
The Justice Department and Julian Assange’s lawyers are in preliminary discussions regarding the WikiLeaks founder possibly pleading guilty to a reduced charge as he faces extradition to the United States, according to a new report.
Citing people familiar with the matter, the Wall Street Journal’s Aruna Viswanatha and Max Colchester reported on Wednesday that the Justice Department is weighing whether to allow Assange to plead guilty to the reduced charge of mishandling classified information.
Assange’s years-long legal battle stems from the United States charging him with 17 counts of espionage over confidential military records he published. Assange was taken into custody by British authorities in 2019 after being charged in the United States, and he’s been fighting extradition ever since. His wife, Stella Assange, and supporters have repeatedly called for his release and noted his declining health since being detained. He is now waiting on a ruling in his appeal for his extradition.
The materials Assange published were from whistleblower Chelsea Manning, who was convicted of violating the Espionage Act, but the sentence was commuted by Barack Obama in 2017.
The Wall Street Journal reports that discussions about a potential deal have been happening for months, but there is still a chance things could “fizzle.” A lawyer for Assange said there’s been no indication of a deal, while the Justice Department is not commenting.
Under the reported conditions of this deal, Assange could find his way out of a cell. According to the report, Assange would have the opportunity to remotely submit a plea, avoiding extradition. The time he’s served would also count towards any sentence, meaning Assange’s long legal drama could potentially have an end in sight.
“If he hadn’t been kept in Belmarsh prison during the past five years he wouldn’t be in this state of deterioration and decline,” Stella Assange told Tucker Carlson last month about her husband. “Every day he spends in prison is a day that his health deteriorates.”
The post Justice Department, Julian Assange Lawyers Exploring Possible Deal for Reduced Charge: Report first appeared on Mediaite.
