Founder of WikiLeaks pleads guilty, secures his freedom

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange pleaded guilty to one felony count under the Espionage Act for publishing classified US documents after striking a plea deal with Department of Justice (DOJ) officials to secure his freedom. Assange pleaded guilty on Wednesday to a felony charge linked to his alleged role in releasing a cache of classified military information and documents, constituting one of the largest leaks of national security secrets in US history. The plea deal, disclosed by the DOJ on Monday night, requires Assange to admit guilt without facing additional prison time. As part of the agreement, he has been credited with the five years he served in a British prison while fighting extradition to the US. Assange's guilty plea marks the culmination of a years-long legal battle that has garnered significant international attention. Some press freedom advocates regard Assange as a hero, while prosecutors view him as a national security threat. The sentencing hearing took place in the Northern Mariana Isl ands, under US sovereignty, where Assange was ultimately granted freedom. The US had pursued Assange on 18 charges related to the possession and publication of secret documents, including those concerning the wars in Afghanistan and the American invasion of Iraq. Had Assange been convicted on all charges, he could have faced more than 180 years in prison. Source: Kuwait News Agency