As reported by The Guardian, Assange is expected to attend a hearing on the island of Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands, where he will be sentenced at 9am local time on Wednesday. His wife expressed her concerns about the implications of his guilty plea under the Espionage Act, particularly for journalists and national security journalists.
She told Reuters, "The fact that there is a guilty plea, under the Espionage Act in relation to obtaining and disclosing National Defence information is obviously a very serious concern for journalists and national security journalists in general."
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Despite the relief of Assange's release, his wife, Stella Assange, a lawyer who has long campaigned for his freedom, admits to feeling a mix of elation and worry. She said, "I feel elated. I also feel worried, you know, because I’m so used to this. Anything could happen. I’m worried that until it’s fully signed off, I worry, but it looks like we’ve got there. I’ll really believe it when I have him in front of me and I can take him and hug him and then it will be real you know?"
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To cover the cost of Assange's flight from the UK to Australia via Thailand and the Northern Mariana Islands, which amounted to $500,000 (£393k / $750k AUD), Stella confirmed plans to launch a fundraising campaign. She explained, "It’s Australian policy that he will have to pay his own return flight so he’s had to charter a flight and so he will basically be in debt when he lands in Canberra. We’re going to launch an emergency fund to try to get this money so that we can pay the Australian government back for his freedom flight."
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The couple's two children, currently in Australia with Stella, are yet to be informed of their father's release. Stella shared that she only told them to expect a "big surprise," as the details of Assange's release needed to be kept confidential during their travel to Australia.
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Assange's plea agreement follows months after U.S. President Joe Biden considered a request from Australia to drop the U.S. push to prosecute Assange. The WikiLeaks founder was indicted during former President Donald Trump’s administration for releasing hundreds of thousands of classified U.S. military documents related to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. This move sparked debates among press freedom advocates, who argue that criminally charging Assange poses a threat to free speech.
Film-maker Michael Moore, who posted a $20,000 bond in 2010 for Assange’s release on bail, described this as a “happy day”. He praised Assange, saying, "the good people of this world will never forget your sacrifice." Moore also expressed hope for a return to a "vital and vibrant press that exists to uncover the lies and protect us, the citizens, from those who would seek to end our democracy.”
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James Clapper, the U.S. director of national intelligence when the classified documents were released in 2010, believes that "justice has been served" with Assange's release. He emphasized the importance of Assange's guilty plea to violating U.S. espionage law, and pointed out that Assange's actions could have potentially compromised sources or methods. However, he also acknowledged that there was no direct proof that U.S. assets in Afghanistan or Iraq were exposed due to Assange's actions.
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The International Federation of Journalists has hailed Assange’s release from prison as a “significant victory for media freedom.” The federation’s president Dominique Pradalie and general secretary Anthony Bellanger both celebrated this development as a victory for journalists worldwide.
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Assange’s parents, John Shipton and Christine Assange, have also expressed their relief and gratitude at the news of their son's release. Shipton described the release as having "lifted a huge burden" from his family, while Christine thanked those who prioritized Julian's welfare.
As Assange prepares to appear before a U.S. federal judge at the U.S. District Court in Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands, his wife Stella urges the public to keep an eye on his flight, expressing concern for his safety. She posted on social media, "Julian Assange’s flight VJ199 landed in Bangkok and will soon take off again and fly into US airspace where he will appear before a US judge. Please follow #AssangeJet, we need all eyes on his flight in case something goes wrong."
