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Julian Assange: Stella Assange says WikiLeaks founder needs time to ‘let our family be a family’ before speaking publicly – as it happened

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Stella Assange says husband needs time to recuperate after arriving in Australia following plea deal with US

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Wed 26 Jun 2024 14.33 BSTFirst published on Tue 25 Jun 2024 22.28 BST
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Julian Assange returns to Australia a free man after US espionage charge – video report

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Supporters have gathered outside the US consulate general in Sydney to celebrate the outcome of today’s hearing, and Julian Assange’s imminent return to Australia.

A man offers sweets to Julian Assange supporters. Photograph: Saeed Khan/AFP/Getty Images
People celebrate together outside the consulate building. Photograph: Saeed Khan/AFP/Getty Images
A woman holds a protest sign outside the building. Photograph: Saeed Khan/AFP/Getty Images

Here’s some footage from our video team of the moment Julian Assange left the Saipan court as a free man.

He gave a quick wave to those gathered before getting into a vehicle, but did not appear to say anything.

The moment Julian Assange left Saipan court a free man – video

This is Emily Wind, back with you on the blog for the next few hours.

Here is a picture of Assange’s airborne plane:

A plane carrying WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange takes off from the Saipan international airport in the Northern Mariana Islands. Photograph: Yuichi Yamazaki/AFP/Getty Images
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Plane carrying Assange takes off in Saipan

Julian Assange has left Saipan a free man, on a plane bound for Canberra, Australia. He is expected to arrive at around 7.30pm local time.

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Here is the video of that address moments before Assange walked free by Australian human rights lawyer and member of Assange’s legal team, Jennifer Robinson.

US prosecution of Julian Assange 'sets dangerous precedent', says lawyer Jennifer Robinson – video
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Summary

Here are the key developments in the Julian Assange hearing today:

  • Court has adjourned in Saipan, where WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange pleaded guilty to a single felony charge for publishing US military secrets. He was sentenced by Judge Ramona V Manglona to time served. He has left the court a free man, and is on his way to his native Australia.

  • The judge said, “It appears your 62 months … was fair and reasonable and proportionate to [Chelsea] Manning’s actual prison time.” WikiLeaks published classified documents obtained by Manning.

  • The plea was part of a deal struck with the US justice department that was expected to secure his freedom. It ends the almost 14-year-long pursuit of the publisher by the US.

  • The plea was entered Wednesday morning in federal court in Saipan, the capital of the Northern Mariana Islands, a US commonwealth in the Pacific. Assange, who had flown to Saipan from London via Bangkok, arrived at court shortly before the hearing was to begin, wearing a dark suit with a tie loosened at the collar. He did not want to face a hearing on the US mainland, which, along with its proximity to Australia, is why Saipan was chosen for the hearing.

  • Following the sentencing, the US Department of Justice released a lengthy statement saying that Assange would not be allowed back into the US. It said, “Following the imposition of sentence, he will depart the United States for his native Australia. Pursuant to the plea agreement, Assange is prohibited from returning to the United States without permission.”

  • Stella Assange, the wife of Julian, told Reuters on Tuesday they would seek a pardon were he to plead guilty. If this were granted, he might be allowed to return to the US in future.

  • Assange departed from the court straight to the airport in Saipan, where he is expected to board a flight for Canberra, Australia.

  • Assange was accompanied in the court Australian ambassador to the US, Kevin Rudd, and Australian high commissioner to the UK, Stephen Smith. He was greeted by foreign and local media, but did not stop to speak to the gathered press despite the questions being shouted at him.

  • Australian human rights lawyer and member of Assange’s legal team, Jennifer Robinson, addressed the media after the sentencing, saying: “I hope that the fact that we have been able to free Julian Assange today against all of the odds and against one of the most powerful governments in the world will give hope to all journalists and publishers who are imprisoned around the world.”

  • Assange’s lawyer, Barry Pollack, addressed the media saying, “The prosecution of Julian Assange is unprecedented in the 100 years of the espionage act, it has never been used by United States to pursue a publisher, a journalist, like Mr Assange. Mr Assange revealed truthful, newsworthy information, including revealing that the United States had committed war crimes. He has suffered tremendously in his fight for free speech, for freedom of the press, and to ensure that the American public and the world community gets truthful and important newsworthy information.”

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US Justice Department statement: Assange prohibited from returning to US

The US Justice Department has released a lengthy statement.

What is most immediately striking about it is that it says that, “following the imposition of sentence, he will depart the United States for his native Australia. Pursuant to the plea agreement, Assange is prohibited from returning to the United States without permission.”

Stella Assange, the wife of Julian, told Reuters on Tuesday they would seek a pardon were he to plead guilty. If this were granted, he might be allowed to return to the US in future.

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Assange has arrived at Saipan’s airport and will shortly be boarding a plane bound for Canberra, Australia, the ABC reports.

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Assange reportedly heading back to airport

Assange is on his way to the airport, where he will board a flight to Australia, the ABC reports. WikiLeaks posted on X earlier to say that Assange was expected to take a flight at roughly this time, 12.30pm. It has not departed yet.

This is Helen Sullivan taking the reins for a while – I’ll be bringing you a summary of the key developments this morning shortly.

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More on this story

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  • ‘I don’t know who Assange is’: global media circus bemuses sleepy Saipan

  • ‘This case ends with me’: inside the Saipan court as Julian Assange’s legal saga comes to an end

  • From a plea deal to a 2am prison call: how Julian Assange finally gained freedom

  • Julian Assange: the WikiLeaks founder’s fight for freedom – in pictures

  • The moment Julian Assange left Saipan court a free man – video

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  • Experts warn Julian Assange plea deal could set dangerous precedent

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  • Julian Assange’s wife speaks of elation over plea deal

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