WikiLeaks co-founder Julian Assange has achieved freedom following a lengthy 14-year battle against extradition to the United States. In a decisive move to secure his release, an anonymous Bitcoin donor contributed over 8 Bitcoin, valued at approximately $500,000, to assist Assange’s family in settling debts accumulated from travel and legal expenses.
On June 24, Assange was released from the high-security Belmarsh prison in the United Kingdom after reaching a plea agreement with U.S. authorities. Shortly after his release, he departed the UK on a private flight from a London airport to Saipan, part of the Northern Mariana Islands, a U.S. territory. He appeared in a district court in Saipan on June 26, where he pleaded guilty to breaching the U.S. Espionage Act by leaking classified documents. This strategic journey was planned to prevent Assange from setting foot on American soil.
In an interview, Stella Assange, Julian’s wife, remarked that “freedom isn’t free.” Julian Assange faces a $520,000 payment to the Australian government for chartering flight VJ199 to Saipan and Australia.
Stella initiated a crowdfunding campaign to alleviate the founder’s financial burdens upon his return to Australia. The donation link, shared by Stella on June 25, quickly garnered support, with an anonymous Bitcoin donor contributing over 8 BTC within 10 hours, nearly meeting the $520,000 goal. In addition to this substantial cryptocurrency donation, fiat contributions have totaled over £300,000 ($380,000) thus far.
The 8 BTC contribution stands out as the largest single donation received, surpassing all other contributions in various currencies combined. Consequently, Assange will return to Australia free from debt.
During his court appearance on June 26, Judge Ramona Manglona sentenced Assange to five years and two months in prison after he pleaded guilty to espionage charges. However, given Assange’s time already served in the UK while contesting extradition, he left the courtroom a free man.
Following his release, Assange took a private flight, arriving in Canberra, Australia, at 9:39 am UTC. He has argued that the Espionage Act’s application infringes upon First Amendment rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution. Nonetheless, Assange acknowledged the potential illegality of soliciting and publishing classified information and, as part of his plea deal, committed to destroying all such materials provided to WikiLeaks.
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