WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange returned to Australia today, marking the end of a protracted legal battle with the United States. Assange arrived aboard a charter jet, hours after pleading guilty to obtaining and publishing U.S. military secrets in a deal with Justice Department prosecutors. Also ReadKenya Protests Explained: What is Kenya’s new finance bill? Why it led protestors to burn part of parliament, call for president’s resignation Unexpected Plea in Pacific Commonwealth The conclusion of Assange's legal saga came in an unexpected setting. Assange, 52, entered his plea in a U.S. district court in Saipan, the capital of the Northern Mariana Islands, an American commonwealth in the Pacific. This location was chosen to accommodate Assange's wish to avoid entering the continental United States and remains relatively close to his native Australia. Charges and Support Assange faced accusations of receiving and publishing hundreds of thousands of war logs and diplomatic cables, revealing U.S. military actions in Iraq and Afghanistan. His activities garnered significant support from press freedom advocates, who praised his role in exposing military conduct that might have otherwise remained hidden. Critics warned of a potential chilling effect on journalists. Among the published files was a video depicting a 2007 Apache helicopter attack by American forces in Baghdad, which killed 11 people, including two Reuters journalists. Return Journey and Diplomatic Efforts Assange's journey from a London prison to Saipan, and subsequently to the Australian capital Canberra, was facilitated by a charter jet. He was accompanied on these flights by Australian Ambassador to the United States Kevin Rudd and High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Stephen Smith, both of whom played pivotal roles in negotiating his release. The flights were financed by the "Assange team," with the Australian government assisting in the logistics. Government's Role in Assange's Release Prime Minister Anthony Albanese addressed Parliament, highlighting the Australian government's "careful, patient and determined work" that led to Assange's freedom after five years in a British prison, where he fought extradition to the U.S. Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles noted the government's involvement in facilitating Assange's transport back to Australia.
