A report has surfaced claiming that the United States government is contemplating a plea deal offer for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. The deal would involve dropping the current 18 charges under the Espionage Act if Assange pleads guilty to mishandling classified documents.
Details of the Plea Deal
The US Justice Department is said to be exploring options regarding WikiLeaks’ release in 2010 of thousands of classified US documents related to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. The proposed leniency plan for Assange includes dropping the charges under the Espionage Act in exchange for a guilty plea related to mishandling classified information.
Assange’s Current Situation
Assange has reportedly spent five years in custody in the UK. If the plea deal is accepted, he could potentially be released soon.
Legal Response
Assange’s legal team has stated that they have not received any indication from Washington regarding the potential plea deal. One of his defense attorneys mentioned that the US Department of Justice is still pursuing his extradition on all 18 charges, which could lead to a 175-year prison sentence.
Upcoming Court Decision
A court in London will soon decide whether to grant Assange further right to appeal his extradition. Currently held in the high-security Belmarsh prison, Assange was unable to attend a recent hearing due to illness.
Next Steps
If the UK court rules against Assange, he will have exhausted all options to challenge the extradition within the UK. His only remaining recourse would be to appeal to the European Court of Human Rights, which could potentially delay the extradition process.
