Julian Assange agrees to plea deal with DOJ that would allow him to avoid imprisonment in US

[Nevilledog]

https://www.cnn.com/2024/06/24/politics/julian-assange-plea-deal-biden-administration/index.html

CNN
—
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has agreed to plead guilty to a felony charge related to his alleged role in one of the largest US government breaches of classified material, as part of a deal with the Justice Department that will allow him to avoid imprisonment in the United States, according to newly filed federal court documents.

Under the terms of the new agreement, Justice Department prosecutors will seek a 62-month sentence – which is equal to the amount of time Assange has served in a high-security prison in London while he fought extradition to the US. The plea deal would credit that time served, allowing Assange to immediately return to Australia, his native country.

The plea deal must still be approved by a federal judge.

Assange had faced 18 counts from a 2019 indictment for his alleged role in the breach that carried a max of up to 175 years in prison, though he was unlikely to be sentenced to that time in full.

Assange was being pursued by US authorities for publishing confidential military records supplied by former Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning in 2010 and 2011.

*snip*


Hmm...

[Big Blue Marble]

1. This headline is wrong.

This deal is being made with an independent justice department,
not the Biden Administration's. Of course, CNN is happy to imply that
is made in way that will feed political anger on the right and compare the
deal with the prosecution of Trump.

[Nevilledog]

2. I don't disagree. I think I'll edit to reflect reality.

[Big Blue Marble]

3. My observation is not a criticism of you.

I am commenting on the "clever" slant that CNN shows and how it implicates
the Biden Administration rather than an independent and politically impartial
Justice Department in what will most likely be a controversial decision.

[Nevilledog]

7. I didn't take it that way. I had the same basic feeling and was too lazy posting it....lol

[brooklynite]

4. The DOJ -IS- the Biden Administration...

It has independence of operation, but its Broad policies are set by the Attorney General and the US Attorneys whom President Biden has nominated.

[triron]

5. However, it's critical to acknowledge the independence

Of the DOJ.

[brooklynite]

6. Why?

DO you have any reason to assume Biden doesn't support the policy?

[FelineOverlord]

8. Going home?

He will go to a U.S. Court in the Northern Mariana Islands. Then maybe he’ll go back to Australia.


I’m surprised he doesn’t want to join Snowden in Russia.

[Nevilledog]

9. Australia

[FelineOverlord]

10. Yes

And they can keep him.

[LudwigPastorius]

11. Crikey!

I wonder if he'll be taking his little Assanges with him?

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2021/oct/16/stella-moris-julian-assange-secret-family

[Johonny]

12. He is guilty so it seems fitting

He already served a lot of time so I'm good with this. Of course, the true believers can never be convinced the man was not a good person. But so be it. Delusion is the new normal.