Stella Assange expressed her elation after her husband agreed to a plea deal that will see him released from British prison. Despite being charged with conspiracy to obtain and disclose national defense information, Assange will not spend any time in US custody and will receive credit for the time spent in UK prison.
Assange had been fighting extradition to the US for the past five years, where he feared a lengthy sentence. However, the plea deal means that he will plead guilty to one charge and be released. The deal was finalized in a court in the Northern Mariana Islands, a US territory, on Wednesday.
Stella stated that the deal had been uncertain at times, but she was happy that it had finally come through. She said that they were unsure if it would happen until the last 24 hours before his departure. Julian Assange’s plane landed in Bangkok on Tuesday as he left the UK after agreeing to the deal.
Assurances have been made that Assange will not face any further penalties after agreeing to plead guilty to the charge against him. The Wikileaks founder’s wife expressed happiness at the news, but also thanked those who had supported them throughout their ordeal.
