Julian Assange, founder of WikiLeaks, has been released from Belmarsh Prison in London following a plea deal with US authorities. Born Julian Paul Hawkins on July 3, 1971, in Queensland, Australia, Assange gained prominence in 2010 when WikiLeaks published classified US documents related to the Afghanistan and Iraq wars. This led to polarizing opinions, with some viewing him as a hero for transparency and others as a threat to national security.
Assange's legal troubles began in 1991 when he was arrested for hacking and later pled guilty to 24 counts in Australia. He founded WikiLeaks in 2006, which saw global attention with the release of classified military and diplomatic cables in 2010.
In 2010, Sweden issued an arrest warrant for Assange on allegations of sexual assault, leading him to seek asylum in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London in 2012. He stayed there until 2019 when his asylum was revoked, and he was arrested by British police. He was subsequently held in Belmarsh Prison, fighting extradition to the US.
Assange's plea deal involves a guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to obtain and disclose national defense information, with a sentencing of 62 months, time already served. He is set to be officially sentenced in Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands. Following the court's approval, he plans to return to Australia.
Assange married Stella Moris in 2022 while in Belmarsh Prison. The couple has two sons, conceived while Assange was in the Ecuadorian Embassy. His release has brought relief to his family, who look forward to starting anew in Australia.