WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange legal saga ends: Here're reactions from actors, family, global leaders & others

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has pleaded guilty in a U.S. court under a deal allowing him to walk free following a 14-year legal battle. He entered the formal plea to a single charge in the Northern Mariana Islands, an American territory in the Pacific, two days after leaving a British prison. In return, he was sentenced to time already served and released to fly to his native Australia and be reunited with his family. Here's what happened and how people are reacting:?

What exactly happened??

Picture Of Julian Travelling To Australia/X

Julian Assange created WikiLeaks, a website that published secret documents from governments and organisations around the world. In 2010, WikiLeaks released thousands of classified U.S. military and diplomatic documents. This caused a lot of controversy and angered many governments, especially in the United States.?

Assange was accused of serious crimes, including espionage, in the United States. He was also wanted in Sweden for questioning over allegations of sexual misconduct, which he denied. To avoid extradition to Sweden and possibly the U.S., Assange sought asylum in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London in 2012. He stayed there for seven years.?

In 2019, the Ecuadorian government withdrew his asylum, and British police arrested him. Since then, Assange has been in a British prison, fighting extradition to the U.S. His case became a symbol for issues like freedom of the press, government transparency, and the rights of whistleblowers.?

After years of legal battles, a British court ruled that Assange would not be extradited to the U.S. due to concerns about his mental health and the conditions he would face in U.S. prisons. Yesterday, he was finally released.?

Reactions from family, global leaders, actors, and others?

Assange’s supporters celebrated his release. They see him as a hero who stood up for the truth and exposed government wrongdoing. Many journalists, human rights activists, and supporters of free speech praised the decision.?

1. Stella Assange, Julian's Wife:

Stella told the BBC on Monday that she was very happy that the legal saga was ending. Mrs. Assange said the priority for her husband was to "get healthy again," be in touch with nature, and for the family to have "time and privacy." The couple has two young children. She also said, "We haven't had much time to talk about the future; the first thing is that he will have to pay the Australian government Rs. 4.2 crore back for the chartered flights. Mrs. Assange has started a crowdfunding campaign to cover the costs, saying they have already raised more than half the amount needed.?

2.?Gabriel Shipton, Julian's Brother

According to Reuters, Gabriel has said, "The Australian government has played a significant role in these last moments. They have played an integral role securing his release and getting him on that plane. But they couldn't have done that without the support of the Australian people. We are very thankful for the Australian people and everyone around the world who has been advocating for Julian."

3. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:

Albanese ahead of the final court hearing earlier on June 25 said, "Regardless of the views that people have about Mr Assange (and) his activities, the case has dragged on for too long. There is nothing to be gained by his continued incarceration and we want him brought home to Australia."

VC: Sky News

4. German FM Annalena Baerbock

According to Reuters, the German FM during her visit to Jerusalem, said,?"I can only say that I am very happy that this case, which was discussed very emotionally all over the world and moved many people, has finally found a solution."

5.?English actor John Bowe

Replying to a news anchor, the actor wrote on X, "If I heard you correctly you said, ‘Good riddance’ with regard to Julian Assange. ‘Disappointed’ doesn’t truly reflect my reaction to your comment."

How did people on the internet react??

A Twitter user wrote, "Journalism’s mission is to hold power to account on an industrial level’ name a journalist who has done this more than Julian Assange? over hearing mediocre journalists (gov mouthpieces) disparaging him as not being a ‘real journalist’. Julian has made more impact on the world than many of them could ever dream of."

Another user siad, "#JuliánAssange?is finally free, but he shouldn't have been in prison in the first place!

One even wrote, "#JuliánAssange Almost didn't think this was ever going to happen. Wishing the best for Julian & Stella. Finally being able to be together with their children. This is the best news we could get right now."

Screenshots from X

Now that the WikiLeaks founder has arrived in Australia, one item on his to-do list is paying off the government for his trip home.?According to the international campaign supporting his release, Assange will need to pay $350,000 for the charter flight.?To cover these expenses and additional recovery costs, the campaign has launched an appeal, asking supporters for donations.

For more news and updates?from the world of??OTT,?celebrities?from?Bollywood?and?Hollywood, keep reading?Indiatimes Entertainment.