Julian Assange made his first public appearance since his release from prison, addressing European lawmakers in Strasbourg, France. During his speech to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, he asserted that the U.S. had compelled him to “plead guilty to journalism” as a means to end his prolonged captivity. Assange emphasized that his case poses a dangerous precedent for press freedom, stating, “I am not free today because the system worked. I am free today after years of incarceration because I pled guilty to journalism.” He reflected on his choice of “freedom over unrealizable justice” in accepting the deal that ultimately allowed him to leave after 14 years in detention.
Released from Belmarsh prison in June, Assange pleaded guilty to conspiring to obtain and disclose classified U.S. documents in a U.S. district court, where he received a sentence equivalent to his time served.
While he celebrated his freedom, Assange expressed concern about the implications of his plea deal, particularly its impact on journalistic practices, as he became the first journalist convicted under the Espionage Act.
He described the toll of his years in isolation, saying, “It strips away one’s sense of self, leaving only the raw essence of existence.”
Since his release, Assange has been recovering at home in Australia with his family, while he and his supporters continue to advocate for a presidential pardon and highlight the ongoing threats to media freedom stemming from his case.
Peoplesmind