Julian Assange has recently reached a plea deal with U.S. prosecutors, marking a significant development in his 14-year-long legal battle. His health has been a concern, and lawyers warn that extradition could pose a suicide risk.
He is an Australian editor, publisher, and activist who founded WikiLeaks in 2006. The non-profit media organization publishes leaked documents.
Highlights
- Julian Assange is flying back to Australia as a free man, but he could face 175 years in prison if convicted.
- His health was declining in jail, and over 60 doctors stated that he could die due to his deteriorating condition.
- He was too ill to attend a hearing in the UK, and his barrister told the court that he was too ill to come or even listen via video link from jail.
53 years old Julian Assange was born in Townsville, Queensland, Australia, on July 3, 1971. His parents named him Julian Paul Assange.
His parents, Christine Ann Hawkins and John Shipton, separated before he was born. Christine worked as a visual artist, and John was an anti-war activist and builder.
Julian established himself as a skilled hacker named Mendax at 16 in 1987.
In his official WikiLeaks biography, he is described as Australia’s most famous ethical computer hacker and claims to have hacked thousands of systems, including the Pentagon, in his youth.
Julian Assange’s Health Was Declining In Jail, And Over 60 Doctors Stated That He Could Die
The Australian editor and publisher Julian Assange is flying back to Australia as a free man after reaching a plea deal with the US government in June 2024.
On February 20, 2024, he was too ill to attend a hearing in the UK due to his health conditions.
The moment we’ve been hanging out for, when Julian Assange walks out of court a free man. pic.twitter.com/koWCbIL0rd
— People For Assange (@people4assange) June 26, 2024
His barrister, Edward Fitzgerald KC, told the court that he was too ill to come or even listen via video link from jail. There were also claims suggesting a possible plot to poison him.
Julian’s wife, Stella Moris, described his health as declining mentally and physically. Reports were indicating that his health had been deteriorating in prison before his release.
More than 60 doctors expressed concerns about his health in November 2019, stating that he could die in prison due to his deteriorating condition.
Rebecca Vincent, a director at Reporters Without Borders, visited him in jail on January 16 and found him in pain and unwell.
Julian Assange Could Face 175 Years In Prison
The Australian activist Julian Assange founded Wikileaks and published classified and sensitive documents.
It released hundreds of thousands of classified documents related to U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
This is why they put Julian Assange in jail pic.twitter.com/0r7clVEDZz
— Rev Laskaris (@REVMAXXING) June 25, 2024
Meanwhile, Julian faced an arrest warrant in Sweden over rape and molestation allegations. He surrenders to police in London and appeals for extradition.
He sought asylum in the Ecuadorian embassy in London in 2012, and Swedish authorities dropped the charges against him in 2017. Later, he was arrested in London for skipping bail in 2019.
The U.S. prosecutors also charged him with conspiring with Chelsea Manning to hack into U.S. Department of Defense computers.
In 2024, he agreed to plead guilty to espionage charges in a deal with U.S. prosecutors, ending his fight against extradition.
He is not expected to receive a prison sentence, but his case remains closely watched due to its international implications. Judge Ramona Manglona said in her sentencing,
It appears that your 62 months imprisonment is fair and reasonable. You will be able to walk out of this courtroom a free man.
His life and health have been under scrutiny, and he could face up to 175 years in prison if convicted.
Additional Information
- Julian Assange has amassed an estimated net worth of $300 thousand.
- His brown hair turned white during the custody dispute of his son, Daniel, with his first wife, Teresa.
- He is the cousin of Australian-British academic and former Iranian hostage Kylie Moore-Gilbert.
