WASHINGTON – WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is set to enter a guilty plea to a conspiracy charge this week, marking a significant development in his legal battle with the U.S. Justice Department. This plea deal is expected to result in his release after spending five years in a British prison, according to court documents. The charge against Assange involves a conspiracy to obtain and disclose national defense information, a serious offense that carries significant implications for the controversial figure.

The case against Assange dates back to one of the largest leaks of classified information in U.S. history, occurring during the first term of former President Barack Obama. Collaborating with Chelsea Manning, a military intelligence analyst, Assange is accused of publishing thousands of reports on the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as sensitive State Department cables and Guantanamo Bay detainee assessments on his WikiLeaks website.

Recent court documents filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands shed light on Assange’s plea deal, outlining a potential sentencing of 62 months with credit for time served. This would pave the way for his return to Australia, where he holds citizenship. Assange has been residing in the Belmarsh Prison on the outskirts of London for the past five years, following his arrest in April 2019 after being ousted from the Ecuadorian Embassy.

The extradition battle between Assange and the U.S. has been ongoing for over a decade, with numerous legal twists and turns. Most recently, the High Court in London granted him a full hearing on his appeal, where he sought assurances regarding his First Amendment rights in a U.S. trial. The issue of potential discrimination against him as a foreign national was also considered during these proceedings, highlighting the complexities surrounding his case.

In addition to his legal woes, Assange’s WikiLeaks published hacked emails from the Democratic National Committee in 2016, contributing to a political firestorm. Notably, Russian intelligence officers were later indicted for their involvement in the DNC hacking, prompting significant controversy and casting a shadow over the electoral process.

The evolution of Assange’s legal saga, intertwined with issues of press freedom and national security, continues to capture global attention. As he navigates the intricacies of the legal system and grapples with the consequences of his actions, the fate of this polarizing figure remains uncertain.