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Assange accepts plea deal? Any truth to this report?

Posted by John Monro <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/xxxxx/info/user=John+Monro' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on June 25, 2024, 1:22 am

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/julian-assange-wikileaks-freed-us-b2568201.html

Briefly, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange plans to plead guilty as part of a plea deal with the US Justice Department that which could see him walk free and bring an end to a long-running legal saga that spanned multiple continents.

Assange was charged with conspiracy to obtain and disclose national defense information, new court documents show.

According to the documents, he is scheduled to appear in the federal court in the Mariana Islands, a US commonwealth in the Western Pacific, on Wednesday morning, and will plead guilty to an Espionage Act charge of conspiring to unlawfully obtain and disseminate classified national defense information, the DOJ said.

The charges against Assange in the US stem from one of the largest publications of classified information in American history, which took place during the first term of Barack Obama’s presidency.

I have to say this seems an unlikely scenario, but who knows? The Guardian has a similar headline.

Assange released from UK prison according to RT...

Posted by Ken Waldron <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/xxxxx/info/user=Ken+Waldron' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on June 25, 2024, 1:37 am, in reply to "Assange accepts plea deal? Any truth to this report?"

Assange released from UK prison – WikiLeaks
The Australian-born activist has struck a plea deal with the US Department of Justice, court documents say

Assange released from UK prison – WikiLeaks
WikiLeaks co-founder Julian Assange has been released from a UK prison on Tuesday morning, his team has said.

DETAILS TO FOLLOW

https://swentr.site/news/599914-assange-expected-plea-deal/

BBC: Julian Assange expected to be freed in US plea deal

Posted by Ken Waldron <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/xxxxx/info/user=Ken+Waldron' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on June 25, 2024, 1:43 am, in reply to "Assange accepts plea deal? Any truth to this report?"

Julian Assange expected to be freed in US plea deal
Julian Assange will serve no time in US custody as part of the deal with the justice department

Author,Bernd Debusmann Jr
Role,BBC News, Washington
1 hour ago

Headline just changed:

Wikileaks: Julian Assange freed in US plea deal

https://news.google.com/articles/CBMiMGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJiYy5jby51ay9uZXdzL2FydGljbGVzL2NyZ2dneXZwMGo5b9IBNGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJiYy5jby51ay9uZXdzL2FydGljbGVzL2NyZ2dneXZwMGo5by5hbXA?hl=en-GB&gl=GB&ceid=GB%3Aen

Looks for real like he's been freed... Nm

Posted by Ken Waldron <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/xxxxx/info/user=Ken+Waldron' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on June 25, 2024, 1:45 am, in reply to "Assange accepts plea deal? Any truth to this report?"

Wikileaks: JULIAN ASSANGE IS FREE

Posted by Ken Waldron <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/xxxxx/info/user=Ken+Waldron' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on June 25, 2024, 1:49 am, in reply to "Assange accepts plea deal? Any truth to this report?"

WikiLeaks
@wikileaks
48m
JULIAN ASSANGE IS FREE

Julian Assange is free. He left Belmarsh maximum security prison on the morning of 24 June, after having spent 1901 days there. He was granted bail by the High Court in London and was released at Stansted airport during the afternoon, where he boarded a plane and departed the UK.

This is the result of a global campaign that spanned grass-roots organisers, press freedom campaigners, legislators and leaders from across the political spectrum, all the way to the United Nations. This created the space for a long period of negotiations with the US Department of Justice, leading to a deal that has not yet been formally finalised. We will provide more information as soon as possible.

After more than five years in a 2x3 metre cell, isolated 23 hours a day, he will soon reunite with his wife Stella Assange, and their children, who have only known their father from behind bars.

WikiLeaks published groundbreaking stories of government corruption and human rights abuses, holding the powerful accountable for their actions. As editor-in-chief, Julian paid severely for these principles, and for the people's right to know.

As he returns to Australia, we thank all who stood by us, fought for us, and remained utterly committed in the fight for his freedom.

Julian's freedom is our freedom.

[More details to follow]

https://nitter.poast.org/wikileaks

No credit to the US, Sweden, the UK or Australia though.

Posted by John Monro <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/xxxxx/info/user=John+Monro' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on June 25, 2024, 2:19 am, in reply to "Assange accepts plea deal? Any truth to this report?"

my wife's first comment when I told her the news. Deals to the whole sorry saga very succinctly......

though apparently Albanese has been more assiduous in helping.

Posted by John Monro <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/xxxxx/info/user=John+Monro' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on June 25, 2024, 2:32 am, in reply to "No credit to the US, Sweden, the UK or Australia though."

to secure Assange's release, but the comment still applies in regard to all his predecessors.

-Vassal states who have forfeited even the appearance of Independence.

Posted by Ken Waldron <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/xxxxx/info/user=Ken+Waldron' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on June 25, 2024, 2:49 am, in reply to "No credit to the US, Sweden, the UK or Australia though."

Whilst the British legal system has shown itself to be a contemptable tool serving not justice but the interests of a foreign state.

Statement from Stella Assange

Posted by flash <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/xxxxx/info/user=flash' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on June 25, 2024, 2:33 am, in reply to "Assange accepts plea deal? Any truth to this report?"

I don't know how they've managed it, seemed like this day would never come.

?feature=shared

Hope this is not a bad joke nm

Posted by Ed <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/xxxxx/info/user=Ed' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on June 25, 2024, 2:35 am, in reply to "Assange accepts plea deal? Any truth to this report?"

but the press and reporting, that's no longer free

Posted by John Monro <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/xxxxx/info/user=John+Monro' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on June 25, 2024, 2:41 am, in reply to "Assange accepts plea deal? Any truth to this report?"

this deal is understandable in human terms, but it still is a worrying precedent for reportage in any part of the world and a huge blow to free speech. The American Empire mightn't have got its full pound of flesh, but it's got a serious injurious chunk and it will be happy enough. .

Re: but the press and reporting, that's no longer free - though perhaps there are solutions.....

Posted by John Monro <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/xxxxx/info/user=John+Monro' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on June 25, 2024, 5:09 am, in reply to "but the press and reporting, that's no longer free"

........ any sovereign legislature could introduce acts and legislation protecting the freedom of the press, the right to inform, the freedom of reporters and journalists and laws that preempt any effort from a foreign power or state to restrict such or demand extradition. This would prevent totally the mistreatment of someone like Julian in the future.

Not that the UK as the poodle to the US master, or its prostitution to the US pimping or its hoodlum to its US godfather would do anything to upset the patron and controller of its own so called independence. But perhaps in time, we could see a braver parliament and better informed citizenry enable such, so not all is lost.

My best wishes here expressed for Julian's full recovery from his unlawful incarceration and a better life with his family, friends and colleagues. But I do fear that his life-explectency will have been shortened by this experience. He should be given a multimillion pound compensation for wrongful imprisonment also.

Guardian says something similar but of course, the hypocrisy of this...

Posted by John Monro <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/xxxxx/info/user=John+Monro' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on June 25, 2024, 5:17 am, in reply to "Re: but the press and reporting, that's no longer free - though perhaps there are solutions....."

..... particular news outlet having qualms about all this won't escape the readers and contributors to this site.

https://www.theguardian.com/media/article/2024/jun/25/julian-assange-may-be-on-his-way-to-freedom-but-this-is-not-a-clear-victory-for-freedom-of-the-press

This from BBC

Posted by ceemac666 <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/xxxxx/info/user=ceemac666' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on June 25, 2024, 5:47 am, in reply to "Guardian says something similar but of course, the hypocrisy of this..."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-69145409

Plea deal or not that's great news. nm

Posted by dan <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/xxxxx/info/user=toastkid' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on June 25, 2024, 6:06 am, in reply to "Assange accepts plea deal? Any truth to this report?"

Fantastic news

Posted by RaskolnikovX <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/xxxxx/info/user=Raskolnikov' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on June 25, 2024, 6:38 am, in reply to "Plea deal or not that's great news. nm"

Noticeable how low key the reporting is on this, at least so far. It brings to an end (hopefully) an utterly shameful story and, as other comments noted, a demonstration of how the law can be bent to fit the imperial masters needs.

It's typical of U.S. "justice" that someone has to plead guilty to something that isn't even a crime to avoid rotting in one of their gulags or dodging shivs and rape in one of their hate factories.

Nobody that supports him, i.e. anyone with a function brain and moral compass, will ever think of him as "guilty" but the empire will always use this as "proof" that it was all wrong and they were right. Bastards.

Enjoy fresh air though, JA. I think I'd be outside for about a month straight.

...no amount of cajolery, and no attempts at ethical or social seduction, can eradicate from my heart a deep burning hatred for the Tory Party...So far as I am concerned they are lower than vermin.

Bloody brilliant. I'm chalking that up as a victory. nm

Posted by Der <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/xxxxx/info/user=Der' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on June 25, 2024, 7:23 am, in reply to "Plea deal or not that's great news. nm"

Re: Plea deal or not that's great news. nm

Posted by johnlilburne <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/xxxxx/info/user=johnlilburne' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on June 25, 2024, 10:31 am, in reply to "Plea deal or not that's great news. nm"

A plea deal agreed to under extreme duress is not worth the paper it's written on. A travesty of justice.

Great news, nevertheless.

Great news. May he enjoy life with his family and start his revovery nm

Posted by marknadim <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/xxxxx/info/user=marknadim' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on June 25, 2024, 6:43 am, in reply to "Assange accepts plea deal? Any truth to this report?"

Joe Lauria on Consortium News

Posted by marknadim <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/xxxxx/info/user=marknadim' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on June 25, 2024, 7:24 am, in reply to "Assange accepts plea deal? Any truth to this report?"

http://consortiumnews.com/2024/06/24/julian-assange-is-free/

"he could be taken into custody, but we assume the U.S. will act in good faith"

Posted by Der <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/xxxxx/info/user=Der' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on June 25, 2024, 8:10 am, in reply to "Joe Lauria on Consortium News"

The words "good faith" and "the US" are seldom bedfellows.

Re: "he could be taken into custody, but we assume the U.S. will act in good faith"

Posted by Fionn <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/xxxxx/info/user=Fionn' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on June 25, 2024, 9:20 am, in reply to ""he could be taken into custody, but we assume the U.S. will act in good faith""

Great news to wake up to this morning. Of course the Corp media outlets fail to report the extent of the injustice he endured...the torture and solitary confinement of an innocent journalist but this is a good day. Hope he makes it back to Australia well.

Re: "he could be taken into custody, but we assume the U.S. will act in good faith"

Posted by Ed <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/xxxxx/info/user=Ed' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on June 25, 2024, 4:53 pm, in reply to ""he could be taken into custody, but we assume the U.S. will act in good faith""

Exactly my thoughts too....wouldn't put anything past the bent barstewards.
Hope Julian has some decent security.

Fingers crossed. We'll know by tomorrow night. Scary stuff. nm

Posted by Der <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/xxxxx/info/user=Der' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on June 25, 2024, 11:25 pm, in reply to "Re: "he could be taken into custody, but we assume the U.S. will act in good faith""

Assange to live

Posted by Keith-264 <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/xxxxx/info/user=Keith-264' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on June 25, 2024, 8:10 am, in reply to "Joe Lauria on Consortium News"

Given what he faced from the Septics, this is a result. Naturally an Australian on Radio 4 news repeated the lie that he had put people at risk....

The last working-class hero in England.

Clio the cat, ? July 1997 - 1 May 2016
Kira the cat, ? ? 2010 - 3 August 2018
Jasper the Ruffian cat ? ? ? - 4 November 2021

The BBC can be relied on to get to the truth of the matter......

Posted by John Monro <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/xxxxx/info/user=John+Monro' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on June 25, 2024, 9:14 am, in reply to "Assange accepts plea deal? Any truth to this report?"

Headine ........Julian Assange: Campaigner or attention seeker?

Oh yes, BBC, just what every attention seeker seeks, five years in solitary in one of the UK's maximum security prison and a one way ticket to 180 years in a US penitentiary.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-11047811

A brave anonymous BBC hack can't help but put the boot in and here's the proof of Assange's perfidy . But his critics - which include former Secretary of State Hilary Clinton and retiring Republican stalwart Mitch McConnell- say he is not a journalist and endangers lives by publishing troves of documents without redaction.

Re: The BBC can be relied on to get to the truth of the matter......

Posted by johnlilburne <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/xxxxx/info/user=johnlilburne' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on June 25, 2024, 10:33 am, in reply to "The BBC can be relied on to get to the truth of the matter......"

Julian Assange: Campaigner or attention seeker?

How about simply Journalist. Obviously, the BBC don't know the meaning of the word.

Even worse.

Posted by Ken Waldron <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/xxxxx/info/user=Ken+Waldron' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on June 25, 2024, 12:36 pm, in reply to "The BBC can be relied on to get to the truth of the matter......"

The original BBC report of his release:

"Mr Assange also faced separate charges of rape and sexual assault in Sweden"

-It's been over a dozen years...there were never any Swedish charges and yet the BBC still prints the above. Pretty obscene.

Re: Even worse.

Posted by Mark Doran <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/xxxxx/info/user=Mark+Doran+66' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on June 25, 2024, 5:34 pm, in reply to "Even worse."

> there were never any Swedish charges and yet the
> BBC still prints the above

Pace all the lies they packaged about Corbyn, the 'hiding in the Embassy to avoid rape charges' crap would actually be my demonstration example of how the BBC uses its crushing, publicly funded, multi-media heft to turn 'stuff that isn't true' into 'facts that everyone knows'. It actually makes the BBC the nation's leading purveyor, not just of 'disinformation', but of straightforward hate speech -- only, the target of the hate is always someone who has mounted a meaningful challenge to elite violence and theft, whence there isn't a single elite institution that will denounce the hate for what it is.

M.

Re: Even worse.

Indeed, I didn't see this, but yes really underhand, perhaps Julian could sue?

So pleased for JA, but there have to be consequences for this appalling crime by US/UK (nm)

Posted by Ian M <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/xxxxx/info/user=Ian+M' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on June 25, 2024, 1:47 pm, in reply to "Assange accepts plea deal? Any truth to this report?"

Tell your story; Ask a question; Interpret generously
http://storybythethroat.wordpress.com/tell-ask-listen/

Pepe Escobar: Reaction to Julian Assange plea and release (Nap)

Posted by t <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/xxxxx/info/user=TomskiD' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on June 25, 2024, 4:55 pm, in reply to "Assange accepts plea deal? Any truth to this report?"

Consequences for the Guardian will be a lucrative book deal

Posted by scrabb <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/xxxxx/info/user=scrabb' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on June 25, 2024, 4:59 pm, in reply to "Pepe Escobar: Reaction to Julian Assange plea and release (Nap)"

Rusbridger...

Posted by Ken Waldron <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/xxxxx/info/user=Ken+Waldron' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on June 25, 2024, 5:55 pm, in reply to "Consequences for the Guardian will be a lucrative book deal"

-No mention of course of his and the Guardian's
complicity in stiffing Assange...what a hypocrite.

alan rusbridger
@arusbridger
10h

Good news that Assange is apparently free. Enough was enough. But his treatment was a warning to journalists and whistleblowers to keep quiet in future. And I suspect it will have worked.

alan rusbridger

https://nitter.poast.org/arusbridger/status/1805485877876900062#m

Re: Rusbridger...

Posted by Ian M <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/xxxxx/info/user=Ian+M' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on June 25, 2024, 6:40 pm, in reply to "Rusbridger..."

'Enough was enough' - doesn't this imply that Rusbridger thinks he deserved to be punished, just not so badly? Satisfying to read the comments, my favourite:

'Holyrood Hulk Hogan @KierHardlie
Why don't you smash a hard drive in celebration that The System Works?' - https://nitter.poast.org/KierHardlie/status/1805502740719608128#m

Tell your story; Ask a question; Interpret generously
http://storybythethroat.wordpress.com/tell-ask-listen/

Re: Assange accepts plea deal? Any truth to this report?

Posted by Ian M <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/xxxxx/info/user=Ian+M' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on June 25, 2024, 11:08 pm, in reply to "Assange accepts plea deal? Any truth to this report?"

Mason:

'I'm glad Julian Assange will soon be free. I was appalled at his role in the hack-and-leak of Hillary Clinton's emails, and collaboration with Trump. But his prosecution under the Espionage Act, and harsh treatment in the UK prison system, was an attack on journalism and I'm proud the NUJ stood by him.' - https://nitter.poast.org/paulmasonnews/status/1805490961105002937#m

'Matt Kennard @kennardmatt
Hillary Clinton’s emails were released by the State Department.
The Manafort-Assange secret meetings Guardian frontpage was a made up story.
Important to be precise when smearing fellow journalists.' - https://nitter.poast.org/kennardmatt/status/1805569959424151865#m

'Fellow journalists'? Now who's being imprecise ;P
I

Tell your story; Ask a question; Interpret generously
http://storybythethroat.wordpress.com/tell-ask-listen/

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