Julian Assange secures freedom following plea deal with US, sentenced to time served
FOX NewsJUL 2024
Julian Assange Free After US Court Accepts Plea Deal
Above: WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is joined by Kevin Rudd, Australian Ambassador to the US as he arrives at the United States Courthouse on June 26, 2024 in Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands. Image copyright: Chung Sung-Jun/Staff/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
While Assange is a controversial figure who did break US laws, most can agree that this episode has gone on too long without resolution. As such, it's in the interests of justice and all involved for this deal to have been made and for Assange to be released after five years in prison.
Establishment-critical narrative
While it is good news that Assange has been released, it cannot be said that justice has been done. Assange was doing important journalistic work and was imprisoned after exposing US war crimes. Justice would mean an apology from the US, compensation for all it has put him through, as well as putting the perpetrators of the war crimes — not those who exposed them — in prison.