In a major development in the long-standing legal drama surrounding Julian Assange, founder of WikiLeaks, reports suggest that the U.S. Justice Department is mulling over the possibility of allowing Assange to plead guilty to a reduced charge.

This potential move opens up the prospect of a deal that could lead to Assange’s eventual release from a British jail, where he has been held since his arrest.

Assange, a polarizing figure known for his role in publishing confidential U.S. military records and diplomatic cables around 2010, has been locked in a protracted legal battle with the British government to avoid extradition to the United States.

London jail

The extradition request came after U.S. prosecutors charged him in 2019.

Since then, Assange has been detained in a London prison, awaiting the outcome of his legal proceedings.

The recent revelation about the Justice Department’s consideration of a guilty plea marks a potential turning point in Assange’s case.

While details of any potential plea deal remain undisclosed, the possibility of Assange admitting to a lesser offense could signal a shift in the direction of his legal saga.

For Assange, the stakes are high as he awaits a crucial decision by the U.K. court regarding his extradition appeal.

The outcome of this appeal will likely have far-reaching implications for his future and the broader issues surrounding press freedom, government transparency, and the limits of national security concerns.