After the agreement, Julian Assange was convicted in a US court and released | World

Founder Wikileaks, Julian AssangeAdmission of guilt He was convicted during a hearing in the US Court in the Northern Mariana Islands, on Tuesday evening (25). Although he was convicted of espionage, he was released under an agreement.

The session began shortly after 8 p.m., Brasilia time, and lasted about three hours. The judge in the case, Ramona Villagomez Manglona, ​​accepted the agreement reached between American prosecutors and Assange’s defense.

“You will be allowed to leave this court free,” the judge said after pronouncing the sentence.

The judge also said it was “fair” and “reasonable” to accept the 62-month prison sentence Assange has already served in the UK. Finally, Manglona also wished an early “happy birthday” to the WikiLeaks creator, who turns 53 next week.

Tuesday’s session comes as a result of an agreement between Assange and the American court. he He pleaded guilty to violating the US Espionage Act. The accusation involves Conspiracy to obtain and disclose classified U.S. national defense documents.

He told the court that he believed the Espionage Act conflicted with America’s First Amendment rights, but he accepted the fact that encouraging sources to provide classified information for publication could be illegal.

He said during the hearing: “In my work as a journalist, I encouraged my source to provide information considered confidential for publication.”

Julian Assange became known around the world for founding WikiLeaks and creating a network of activists. The organization was responsible for leaking about 700,000 secret documents from the United States, which angered the American authorities.

The agreement reached between Assange and the US Department of Justice ends a legal dispute that lasted 14 years.

After the hearing, Julian Assange must travel to Australia, the country where he was born.

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