“My name is Julian Paul Assange.”
And with that, the WikiLeaks founder uttered the first words that the assembled reporters and supporters had heard from him, as the latest — and perhaps final — extraordinary step in his legal battle A chapter has begun.
In a wooden courthouse at the foot of a lush hillside on Saipan’s coast, Assange awaited a three-hour hearing in which he would plead guilty to violating U.S. espionage laws and enter into a deal that would allow him to be with his family in Australia.
As Assange entered the courtroom under blue skies, he did not answer any questions from the swarming media, many of whom had flown thousands of miles to this remote U.S. outpost of 40,000 people in the Northern Mariana Islands. He was asked if he preferred the weather in Saipan to London.
Chief Judge Ramona V Manglona opened the proceedings. She noted that the courtroom was unusually crowded and asked Assange to confirm what he had done and why he had pleaded guilty.
Assange responded that as a journalist, he encouraged sources to provide confidential information and believed the First Amendment protected this activity. He now admits this actually violated the U.S. Espionage Act.
Asked again whether he was pleading guilty because he “actually committed this charge”, Assange paused for a long moment.
“I am,” he said.
As the unprecedented hearing continues, the judge noted that the timing of the hearing will be key in determining the outcome.
“If this case had been brought to me sometime around 2012 without the information that I now know, which is that you served time in one of the toughest facilities in the UK… I would not be so inclined. Accept that I have this plea agreement in front of me,” she said.
“But it’s 2024 now.”
Manglona announced that she would accept the terms of a plea deal between Assange and the U.S. government. Assange was invited to stand before her to receive sentencing, which he is already serving in a British prison, meaning he will be released immediately without any supervision.
“With this declaration, it looks like you will be able to walk out of court a free man. I hope some peace can be restored,” Manglona said.
That outcome was all but certain when Assange walked into the courtroom for the second time, but that didn’t diminish the impact of the moment. The WikiLeaks founder appeared emotional as he nodded to the judge in recognition of the verdict.
“It looks like the case ended with me in Saipan,” Manglona continued, asking if he knew all the details of the agreement.
Assange replied, his voice a little hoarse: “I do.”
As the judge completed the final formalities, he tightened his tie and held his glasses.
“Well…Mr. Assange, this is obviously a happy birthday to you,” she said.
“I know your birthday is next week. I hope you can start your new life on a positive note.
The court adjourned.
Assange began to cry as he hugged his lawyers, shook hands with his pursuers and signed autographs for supporters.
In front of the sparkling Pacific Ocean, beside a beach with stray kittens running among the trees, a 14-year legal saga ended unexpectedly, half a world away from where it began.
