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Gone quiet · last update Oct 1, 2024 / Julian Assange

Julian Assange's plea deal and his return to Australia

Overview · reviewed October 24, 2026

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange fought extradition from Britain to the United States, where he faced spying charges, until June 2024. He then pleaded guilty to a single charge in a deal that freed him, and he returned to Australia.[1][2]

Read the timeline

Follow this story to see new developments when you return.

Coverage over time

Share of tracked outlets · monthly average of weekly shares (UTC)

Oct 2021: average weekly share 18% (left 5%, center 11%, right 3%), from 1 of 1 weekNov 2021: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksDec 2021: average weekly share 5% (left 1%, center 2%, right 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksJan 2022: average weekly share 4% (left 1%, center 2%, right 1%), from 5 of 5 weeksFeb 2022: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksMar 2022: average weekly share 4% (left 2%, center 2%, right 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksApr 2022: average weekly share 3% (left 1%, center 1%, right 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksMay 2022: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksJun 2022: average weekly share 7% (left 1%, center 3%, right 3%), from 4 of 4 weeksJul 2022: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksAug 2022: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksSep 2022: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksOct 2022: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksNov 2022: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksDec 2022: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksJan 2023: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksFeb 2023: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksMar 2023: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksApr 2023: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksMay 2023: average weekly share under 1% (left under 1%, center under 1%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksJun 2023: average weekly share 1% (left under 1%, center 1%, right under 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksJul 2023: average weekly share under 1% (left under 1%, center under 1%, right under 1%), from 5 of 5 weeksAug 2023: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksSep 2023: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksOct 2023: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksNov 2023: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksDec 2023: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksJan 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksFeb 2024: average weekly share 5% (left 2%, center 3%, right 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksMar 2024: average weekly share 4% (left 1%, center 2%, right 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksApr 2024: average weekly share 2% (left 1%, center 1%, right under 1%), from 5 of 5 weeksMay 2024: average weekly share 5% (left 2%, center 2%, right 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksJun 2024: average weekly share 10% (left 3%, center 5%, right 2%), from 4 of 4 weeksJul 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksAug 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksSep 2024: average weekly share 2% (left under 1%, center 1%, right 1%), from 5 of 5 weeksOct 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksNov 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksDec 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksJan 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksFeb 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksMar 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksApr 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksMay 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksJun 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksJul 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksAug 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksSep 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksOct 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksNov 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksDec 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksJan 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksFeb 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksMar 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksApr 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksMay 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksJun 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksJul 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksAug 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksSep 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksOct 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksNov 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 2 of 2 weeks, so far

LeftCenterRight

Each bar is the share of the outlets on our Left / Center / Right rating scale that we tracked publishing that week which carried reporting on this story, split by the outlets' ratings. Over more than two years each bar is a month: the average of that month's weekly shares, so the shape stays readable. The weekly table below keeps every week. We track more outlets now than in the archive, so a share keeps earlier and later weeks comparable. An outlet counts once a week however much it published, and outlets in one ownership or syndication group count as one on each side they appear on. A rating describes the outlet, not the report. A gap means no such reports were collected that week, not that nothing was reported anywhere. Weeks run Monday to Sunday in UTC, so a report published on a Sunday evening in US Eastern time counts in the next week. 12 more outlets off the scale (not rated, or outside the left-right graphs) also reported; they are not in this chart. See them.

Weekly counts, outlets and reports (17 weeks with coverage)
Outlets on the rating scale that carried this story each week, of the outlets tracked that week, newest first
Week of (UTC)LeftCenterRightOf trackedShareReceipts
Sep 30, 2024310619 of 2229%
Jun 24, 2024314624101 of 25040%
May 20, 20241322944 of 22619%
May 13, 20241012 of 2161%
Apr 8, 20241012527 of 26410%
Mar 25, 20241321741 of 24517%
Feb 19, 20241430650 of 23222%
Jul 24, 20233115 of 2622%
Jun 5, 20231719 of 2653%
May 1, 20232406 of 2562%
Jun 27, 202234310 of 1915%
Jun 13, 20228172146 of 19224%
Apr 18, 202288925 of 18514%
Mar 14, 20221214531 of 18317%
Jan 24, 20221019736 of 19818%
Dec 6, 202112181040 of 20619%
Oct 25, 2021920534 of 18618%

Latest coverage

The newest reporting in this story's record.

  1. Sep 30, 2024 · first reported · Headline from Wyoming Tribune Eagle

    Assange says ‘pleaded guilty to journalism’ to be freed

Background

The extradition fight was in Britain's High Court by late 2021. In October, the United States appealed a British judge's refusal to extradite Assange, telling the court that he could serve any sentence in Australia.[3][4] In December, the High Court ruled that he could be extradited.[5]

Read the full background (4 more paragraphs)

Britain then cleared the way for his extradition. In January 2022, a British court allowed Assange to seek an appeal, but in March Britain's top court refused to hear it.[6][7] In June, the British government ordered his extradition to face 18 counts, including a spying charge, over WikiLeaks' release of confidential US documents.[8][9]

Australia pressed the United States to end the case. Australia's prime minister said in 2023 that the US effort to extradite Assange was not worth it, while Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Assange was accused of a very serious crime.[10][11] In April 2024, President Joe Biden said he was considering Australia's request to drop the prosecution.[12]

A High Court judge refused him permission to appeal in June 2023, and in February 2024 his lawyers made a last attempt in London to stop the extradition.[13][14] In May, a British court ruled that Assange could appeal.[15]

The case ended in a plea deal. In June 2024, Assange pleaded guilty to obtaining and publishing US military secrets and returned to Australia a free man.[1][2] In October, in his first public remarks since his release, he said he had pleaded "guilty to journalism."[16]

Supporting stories (16)
  1. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is free, ending years-long legal saga
  2. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange returns to Australia a free man after US legal battle ends
  3. US set to appeal UK refusal to extradite WikiLeaks' Assange
  4. US says Assange could go to Australian prison if convicted
  5. UK court permits Assange extradition to US on spying charges
  6. Assange Granted Appeal in UK to Fight Extradition to US
  7. Assange denied chance for appeal
  8. UK government approves Julian Assange's extradition to the U.S.
  9. Julian Assange appeals to UK court against extradition to US
  10. Australia PM says U.S. effort to extradite Assange not worth it
  11. Blinken to Australia: WikiLeaks founder is accused of 'very serious' crime
  12. Biden says he’s considering Australia’s request to drop prosecution of Wikileaks founder Assange
  13. Julian Assange loses latest attempt to appeal against extradition to the US
  14. Julian Assange makes last-ditch attempt in UK court to avoid extradition to US
  15. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange can appeal US extradition order: UK court
  16. WikiLeaks’ Julian Assange says he pleaded ‘guilty to journalism’ in order to be freed

The full record

Each date is when an update was first reported.

All 24 recorded updates

September 2024

  1. WikiLeaks’ Julian Assange says he pleaded ‘guilty to journalism’ in order to be freedHeadline from Washington Times · 17 outlets
  2. WikiLeaks' Julian Assange to make first public statement since his release from prison - The Daily ReporterHeadline from Green Field Reporter · 5 outlets

June 2024

  1. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange returns to Australia a free man after US legal battle endsHeadline from KOB 4 · 55 outlets
  2. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange stops in Bangkok on his way to a US court and later freedomHeadline from New York Post · 16 outlets
  3. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is free, ending years-long legal sagaHeadline from NPR · 78 outlets
  4. Julian Assange expected to plead guilty, avoid further prison time as part of deal with USHeadline from ABC 11 Raleigh · 8 outlets

May 2024

  1. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange can appeal US extradition order: UK courtHeadline from New York Post · 52 outlets

April 2024

  1. Wife of Julian Assange says Biden's comments mean case could be moving in the right directionHeadline from Daily Journal · 6 outlets
  2. Biden says he’s considering Australia’s request to drop prosecution of Wikileaks founder AssangeHeadline from WBTW Myrtle Beach · 26 outlets

March 2024

  1. UK court orders to delay extradition of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to US on espionage chargesHeadline from WRIC Richmond · 47 outlets

February 2024

  1. WikiLeaks’ Assange faces wait to find out whether he can challenge extradition to the U.S.Headline from The Columbian · 34 outlets
  2. Julian Assange makes last-ditch attempt in UK court to avoid extradition to USHeadline from ABC 11 Raleigh · 19 outlets
  3. WikiLeaks founder Assange may be near the end of his long fight to stay out of the USHeadline from NBC New York · 7 outlets

July 2023

  1. Blinken to Australia: WikiLeaks founder is accused of 'very serious' crimeHeadline from KENS 5 San Antonio · 5 outlets

June 2023

  1. Julian Assange loses latest attempt to appeal against extradition to the USHeadline from Local News 8 · 10 outlets

May 2023

  1. Australia PM says U.S. effort to extradite Assange not worth itHeadline from Honolulu Star-Advertiser · 8 outlets

June 2022

  1. Julian Assange appeals to UK court against extradition to USHeadline from WFMZ Allentown · 10 outlets
  2. UK government approves Julian Assange's extradition to the U.S.Headline from PBS NewsHour · 52 outlets

April 2022

  1. Judge sends Assange extradition decision to UK governmentHeadline from Minneapolis Star Tribune · 28 outlets

March 2022

  1. Assange denied chance for appealHeadline from The Columbian · 32 outlets

January 2022

  1. Assange Granted Appeal in UK to Fight Extradition to USHeadline from NBC Los Angeles · 38 outlets

December 2021

  1. UK court permits Assange extradition to US on spying chargesHeadline from WFMZ Allentown · 44 outlets

October 2021

  1. US set to appeal UK refusal to extradite WikiLeaks' AssangeHeadline from Waco Tribune-Herald · 29 outlets
  2. US says Assange could go to Australian prison if convictedHeadline from 13News Now Norfolk · 10 outlets

Coverage & sources

Read the reports, see how much was collected over time, or compare outlets by political leaning.

Coverage & sources →