WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange on Wednesday walked free after pleading guilty in a U.S. court in the Northern Mariana Islands, a U.S. commonwealth in the Pacific, to a felony charge for publishing U.S. military secrets. As part of the plea agreement, the U.S. is bound to withdraw its extradition request and recommended a sentence to time already served, with no additional fines issued. The WikiLeaks organization posted a statement on the X social media platform saying that Assange was due to fly to his native Australia. "Regardless of the views that people have about Mr. Assange's activities, the case has dragged on for too long. There's nothing to be gained by his continues incarceration, and we want him brought home to Australia.

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Persons: Julian Assange, Assange, Barry Pollack, Chelsea Manning, Mr, Pollack, Anthony Albanese, " Albanese, London's, Stella Assange Organizations: Wednesday, U.S, U.S ., WikiLeaks, Bombardier Global Locations: U.S, Northern Mariana Islands, Saipan, Australia, Bangkok