Julian Assange Gains Freedom After 14-Year Battle: Anonymous Bitcoiner Funds His Flight Home
Summary:
WikiLeaks co-founder Julian Assange has gained his freedom after a 14-year struggle against extradition to the U.S, helped by an anonymous Bitcoin donation used to settle his financial obligations. Assange pleaded guilty to violating the U.S. Espionage Act and served his sentence in the U.K. while fighting his extradition, leading to his release. His return to Australia was facilitated by substantial contributions to a crowdfunding drive initiated by his wife, which covered his compulsory flight charter costs.
Following a 14-year struggle against extradition to the U.S., WikiLeaks co-founder Julian Assange has gained freedom. His freedom was assured after an anonymous donor, using Bitcoin, contributed over eight Bitcoins (equivalent to $500,000) to settle the financial obligations resulting from Assange's travel and settlement costs. On June 24, Assange was set free from the highly secure Belmarsh prison located in the U.K. as part of his plea deal with the U.S. He immediately exited the U.K., boarding a private aircraft bound for the U.S. Pacific territory of Saipan. Upon appearance in a district court in Saipan on June 26, Assange admitted to a single count of violating the U.S. Espionage Act by disclosing secret documents.
Assange's wife, Stella Assange, made it known during an interview that "freedom comes at a cost." Julian is supposed to pay the Australian government $520,000 for the compulsory charter of flight VJ199 used to fly to both Saipan and Australia. Stella initiated a crowdfunding drive to assist her husband in clearing his debts subsequent to his return to Australia. The crowdfunding link was disseminated by Stella on June 25. Less than half a day later, an anonymous donor sent over 8 Bitcoins to the fund; this nearly achieved the target of $520,000. Another considerable boost to the fund was a fiat donation summing up at 300,000 British pounds ($380,000).
The single Bitcoin contribution was the most substantial donation received by the fund and surpassed the combined funds received in all other currencies. This enables Assange to return to Australia without any outstanding debts. On June 26, Assange confessed to one count of conspiring to acquire and reveal U.S. confidential defense documents in the U.S. District Court of the Northern Mariana Islands. In response, District Judge Ramona Manglona sentenced Assange to imprisonment for five years and two months on account of his guilty plea to espionage-related charges. However, Assange already served the stipulated prison period in the U.K while combatting his extradition. Thus, he exited the courtroom, a free man. Assange ultimately took the private flight and touched down in Canberra at 09:39 UTC.
Assange contended that the Espionage Act on which his charges were predicated contradicted the First Amendment rights accorded by the U.S. Constitution. Nevertheless, he conceded that encouraging sources to supply classified information could be deemed illegal. As part of his plea deal, Assange was obligated to destroy all the classified data shared with WikiLeaks.
Published At
6/26/2024 1:12:18 PM
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