Julian Assange agrees to plea deal with US to avoid imprisonment in US

Julian Assange has agreed to a plea deal with the Biden administration, allowing him to plead guilty to a felony charge related to a US government breach of classified material. The deal would enable Assange to avoid imprisonment in the US by crediting the time he has already served in a London prison. The agreement, seeking a 62-month sentence, still needs approval from a federal judge. Assange faced 18 counts from a 2019 indictment, potentially carrying up to 175 years in prison. He was pursued for publishing confidential military records provided by Chelsea Manning. President Biden hinted at a possible deal to return Assange to Australia, a move opposed by FBI and Justice Department officials unless it included a felony guilty plea. Recently, a UK court ruled in Assange's favor, granting him the right to appeal against extradition to the US. This development marks a significant turn in Assange's years-long legal battle to evade prosecution in the United States.