The American newspaper "The Washington Post" reported that the founder of the "WikiLeaks" website, Julian Assange, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to charges of espionage during his trial in the Northern Mariana Islands. As expected, Assange admitted to violating the Espionage Act and waived his right to have his case tried before a jury.
According to "The Guardian," Assange was ordered to direct "WikiLeaks" to destroy information as a condition for his release following his partial guilty plea. The newspaper's court correspondent, Helen Davidson, reported from the courtroom in Saipan: "Julian Assange must order WikiLeaks to destroy the information and provide written confirmation that he has done so. American lawyers must be convinced that he has done it."
Furthermore, "The Guardian" noted that the U.S. government would not seek to seize Assange's assets. Earlier, the U.S. Department of Justice indicated it expected the courts to approve the deal with Julian Assange and to issue a ruling within a day, after which the "WikiLeaks" founder would be able to return to his home in Australia.
For his part, U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller stated that Washington would comment on the situation after the court's decision. Assange was released on bail from a British prison on Tuesday after agreeing with U.S. authorities to partially plead guilty in exchange for a sentence reduction to the five years he has already spent behind bars. In the Northern Mariana Islands, a court in the Pacific region of the United States must approve the deal and release the founder of "WikiLeaks."
