Who is Wikileaks' Julian Assange?

What Did Julian Assange Do?

Julian Assange is the founder of WikiLeaks, a website known for publishing confidential and restricted official reports on war, spying, and corruption. In 2010, WikiLeaks released a video from a US military helicopter showing civilians being killed in Baghdad, Iraq. Additionally, it published thousands of confidential documents supplied by former US Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning. These documents suggested the US military had killed hundreds of civilians in unreported incidents during the Afghanistan war.

The revelations sparked global reactions and intense scrutiny of American involvement in foreign conflicts. The US government claimed the leaks endangered the lives of American personnel and accused Assange of conspiring to break into military databases to acquire sensitive information. He was charged with 18 offenses and efforts were made to extradite him to the US, which he fought for 14 years in some of the world’s highest courts. Assange has maintained that he exposed serious abuses by the US armed forces and argued that the case against him was politically motivated.

Who is Julian Assange?

Born in Australia, Julian Assange is known for his intensity, drive, and intelligence, with a particular talent for computer programming. As a teenager, he gained a reputation for his programming skills and was fined for hacking offenses in 1995. Assange co-wrote a bestselling book on the emerging, subversive side of the internet before studying physics and mathematics.

What Were the Sexual Assault Allegations Against Julian Assange?

In 2010, the same year WikiLeaks released footage of US soldiers killing Iraqi civilians, Swedish authorities issued an arrest warrant for Assange, accusing him of raping one woman and molesting another. This marked the beginning of Assange's 14-year legal battle. He was detained in the UK and denied the allegations, claiming they were a ruse to extradite him to the US for espionage charges related to WikiLeaks disclosures.

In 2012, Assange sought asylum in the Ecuadorian embassy in London, supported by the then-president of Ecuador. He spent seven years in the embassy, receiving visits from celebrity supporters like singer Lady Gaga and actress Pamela Anderson. In 2019, after being ordered to leave by a new Ecuadorian president, he was arrested by UK police and spent five years in a British prison while continuing to fight extradition to the US. The Swedish authorities dropped the case against him in November 2019 due to the passage of time.

Why Has Julian Assange Been Released Now?

Julian Assange's release from a UK prison comes after a deal in which he pleaded guilty to one charge under the US Espionage Act and will spend no time in a US jail. His supporters say the agreement was reached after intense diplomatic efforts and pressure from Australia. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese remarked that the case had "dragged on too long."

The hearing took place in the Northern Mariana Islands, an American territory in the Pacific Ocean. US President Joe Biden previously indicated he would consider a formal request to drop charges, which Assange's supporters welcomed, citing his ill health. Assange's wife, Stella Assange, suggested a breakthrough was achieved after the UK High Court began considering her husband's constitutional protections under the freedom of the press. She expressed elation at his release but noted it had been "touch and go" at times.

What is WikiLeaks and What Else Has it Done?

Founded by Julian Assange in 2006, WikiLeaks claims to have published over 10 million documents on various topics. Currently led by Icelandic journalist Kristinn Hrafnsson, the site is known for significant revelations, including documents related to Iraq and Afghanistan, a 2015 leak from Sony Pictures, and thousands of hacked emails from Hillary Clinton's campaign chief John Podesta during the 2016 US presidential election. Supporters view WikiLeaks as crucial for exposing secrets that governments and companies want to keep hidden, while critics argue it is a dangerous and reckless force.

Who is Stella Assange?

Stella Assange, a Swedish-Spanish lawyer, began her relationship with Julian Assange in 2015. The couple has two children together, Max and Gabriel. They married in 2022 inside London’s Belmarsh prison, where Assange was being held. Stella's wedding dress was designed by Dame Vivienne Westwood and Andreas Kronthaler. Six guests attended the ceremony, including Assange's two brothers and his father.