After a prolonged 14-year legal struggle to avoid extradition to the United States, WikiLeaks co-founder Julian Assange has been liberated. In a decisive move to ensure his release, a benefactor preferring to remain unnamed contributed over 8 Bitcoin, valued at approximately $500,000, to assist in settling Assange’s family’s debts accrued from his travel and resettlement costs.
On the 24th of June, Assange was discharged from the United Kingdom’s maximum-security Belmarsh prison following a plea bargain with the authorities of the United States. He then left the UK aboard a privately chartered aircraft from a London airstrip, heading for Saipan within the Northern Mariana Islands, a territory under U.S. governance.
Assange made an appearance in a Saipan district court on the 26th of June, where he admitted to a single count of violating the U.S. Espionage Act by disseminating confidential documents. This route was meticulously planned to avoid Assange setting foot on U.S. soil.
**Bitcoiner Aids Assange’s Journey to Freedom**
In a revealing interview, Stella Assange, Assange’s spouse, remarked that “liberty bears its price.” Assange is obligated to remit $520,000 to the Australian authorities for the compulsory charter of flight VJ199 for his travels to Saipan and subsequently to Australia.
Stella initiated a fundraising campaign to support the imprisoned founder with his financial obligations following his repatriation to Australia.
*Source: Stella Assange*
Stella Assange publicized the donation link on June 25, and within a mere 10 hours, an anonymous Bitcoin enthusiast contributed over 8 Bitcoin (BTC) to the fund, nearly achieving the $520,000 target. Additionally, Assange has received in excess of 300,000 British pounds ($380,000) in fiat currency donations.
*Assange’s 8 BTC Contribution. Source: Mempool*
This singular Bitcoin contribution surpassed the total of all other donations across various currencies, enabling Assange to return to Australia without any financial encumbrances.
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**Assange Admits Guilt and Exits Court Unencumbered**
During Assange’s court session on June 26, Judge Ramona Manglona imposed a sentence of five years and two months of incarceration for his espionage admission. Nonetheless, Assange had already served an equivalent duration in British custody while contesting extradition, which allowed him to exit the courtroom unbound by any sentence.
*Source: Stella Assange*
Subsequently, Assange embarked on a private flight, arriving in Canberra, Australia, at 9:39 am UTC.
*Assange’s Flight Trajectory Schedule. Source: FlightAware*
Assange contended that the Espionage Act, which formed the basis of his charges, was at odds with the First Amendment rights enshrined in the U.S. Constitution. Nevertheless, he conceded that inciting sources to leak classified material for publication might contravene the law. As stipulated in the plea agreement, he was compelled to eliminate all classified data provided to WikiLeaks.
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