Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, was reunited with his family in Australia on Wednesday after a 14-year legal saga. Assange, 52, arrived at Canberra airport at 5:30 a.m. ET (7:30 p.m. local time), where he was greeted by his wife, Stella, and their two young children.
Assange’s return followed his guilty plea to publishing US military secrets in a US District Court in Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands. The plea deal ended his legal battle and allowed him to return to his homeland.
At a press conference in Australia, Stella Assange asked for privacy to allow the family to recuperate and reunite. “Julian wanted me to thank everyone sincerely. He needs time. He needs to recuperate,” she said.
Assange’s release concludes years of legal turmoil, including over five years in a British high-security jail and seven years in asylum at the Ecuadorean Embassy in London. He faced extradition to Sweden on sexual assault allegations and to the US, where he was charged with 18 criminal counts related to WikiLeaks’ 2010 release of classified US military documents.
After landing in Australia, Assange spoke with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who had long advocated for his release. Assange’s lawyer, Jennifer Robinson, expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister, noting that Assange credited Albanese with saving his life.
Assange admitted to one count of violating the Espionage Act during his court appearance in Saipan. He stated, “Working as a journalist, I encouraged my source to provide information that was said to be classified to publish that information. I believed the First Amendment protected that activity, but I accept that it violated the espionage statute.”
Assange’s return marks the end of a significant chapter in his life as he seeks to recover and reconnect with his family.
