Julian Assange Pleads Guilty to a Single Felony Count

WikiLeaks Founder Agrees to Deal After Lengthy Legal Battle

Assistant U.S. Attorney Gordon Kromberg stated that Assange "knowingly maintained a computer that was accessed without authorization, and in doing so, willfully violated the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act."

Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, has agreed to plead guilty to a single felony count of illegally obtaining and disclosing classified information. The plea agreement was reached on Monday, following a lengthy legal battle that began with Assange's arrest in 2019. The agreement states that Assange will serve four years in prison and pay a fine of $450,000.

In a statement released by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Assistant U.S. Attorney Gordon Kromberg said that Assange "knowingly maintained a computer that was accessed without authorization, and in doing so, willfully violated the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act." Kromberg also stated that Assange's actions "posed a grave threat to national security."

Assange's lawyer, Barry Pollack, said that his client agreed to the plea deal in order to "avoid the risk of a life sentence." Pollack also stated that Assange "deeply regrets his actions."

The plea agreement is a significant development in the long-running legal battle over WikiLeaks. The organization has been a controversial figure since its inception in 2006, and its founder has been accused of everything from treason to espionage. However, Assange's supporters argue that he is a whistleblower who has exposed important truths about the U.S. government.

The plea agreement is likely to be met with mixed reactions. Some will see it as a victory for justice, while others will see it as a miscarriage of justice. However, there is no doubt that Assange's guilty plea is a significant moment in the history of WikiLeaks.