Julian Assange is a free man.
Julian #Assange leaves court 'Free Man', ends 14-year drama
The WikiLeaks founder appeared Wednesday in US District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands before the Honorable Ramona V Manglona, who asked how he pleaded to the Conspiracy to Obtain and Disclose National Defense Information – a single charge rather than the 18 US Department of Justice previously hoped to get.
Assange is said to have pleaded "guilty to the information" – as expected as part of a deal reached on Monday, under which he would plead guilty to one charge in exchange for his freedom.
Judge Manglona accepted that plea as a guilty plea, ordered a brief recess, then heard arguments from a US government lawyer who suggested a 62-month sentence was appropriate – again, as expected under the US government's deal with Assange.
