Julian Assange flies out of UK on $500,000 private jet after being freed in US plea deal
Julian Assange is travelling to his native Australia on a private jet after US authorities agreed to drop their demand for the WikiLeaks founder to be extradited from the UK having struck a plea deal with him.
Assange had to pay $500,000 (£394,000) for a chartered flight from Stansted to Saipan, the capital of the Northern Mariana Islands – a US commonwealth in the Pacific – where he will plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to obtain and disclose national defence information.
In exchange he will be sentenced to time served – the 62 months he has already spent in a British prison – according to court documents.
Assange at the airport after leaving prison. Pic: WikiLeaks
Once the guilty plea has been accepted by a judge, the 52-year-old will be free to return to Australia, the country of his birth.
The chartered flight stopped in Bangkok for refuelling on its way to Saipan.
Assange is accompanied by a WikiLeaks lawyer, a representative of the Australian government and a medic to check on his health.
American prosecutors had alleged Assange put lives at risk when he helped former US Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning steal diplomatic cables and military files WikiLeaks put online in 2010.
He had been locked in a legal battle in the UK over his extradition, which included him entering the Ecuadorean Embassy in London in 2012 prior to his detention in Belmarsh prison – where he has been since May 2019.
‘Julian is free!’
In a post on X, WikiLeaks said Assange left Belmarsh on Monday morning after being granted bail by the High Court. By the afternoon he was at Stansted Airport where he boarded a plane and left the UK.
“After more than five years in a 2×3 metre cell, isolated 23 hours a day, he will soon reunite with his wife Stella Assange, and their children, who have only known their father from behind bars,” the organisation said.
Stella Assange with her children, Max and Gabriel, marking Julian’s 50th birthday back in 2021. Pic: Reuters
Mrs Assange shared on social media a video montage of her husband in a car and then boarding a plane.
She wrote: “Julian is free!!!!
“Words cannot express our immense gratitude to YOU – yes YOU, who have all mobilised for years and years to make this come true. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.”
She posted on X to say Assange will owe $520,000 to the Australian government for the charter flight and asked for donations to help pay for it.
Speaking from Australia, Mrs Assange told the PA news agency: “It is hard to believe that Julian has been in prison for so long. It had become normalised. I am grateful to the people who made this possible but I am also angry that it ever came to this.
“Overall I am elated but I cannot believe it is actually happening until I see Julian.”
Mrs Assange said her husband would not have been released without the intervention of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who has been increasingly vocal in his demands for the US to drop charges against Assange.
“The public climate has shifted and everyone understands that Julian has been the victim,” she said.
“Things are still very sensitive. Julian is paying for the flight so we will launch a fundraising campaign.”
She said she had travelled to Australia with the couple’s two young sons, Gabriel and Max, on Sunday when it became clear Assange would be freed.
Stella Assange speaking in London on 26 March. Pic: PA
WikiLeaks shared an update on Assange’s journey on X, posting a picture of him on a jet as it approached Bangkok for a stopover.
Assange’s plea and sentencing on Saipan are scheduled for Wednesday morning local time (Tuesday evening UK time).
The hearing is taking place in the US Commonwealth territory because of Assange’s opposition to travelling to one of the 50 US states and the court’s proximity to Australia.
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Assange’s brother Gabriel Shipton told Sky News this morning the WikiLeaks founder is “overwhelmed to be out of prison”.
Mr Shipton added: “He’s been on a plane for a very long time now… I’ve been speaking to him this week and just going through all the details with him.
“He’s been very anxious, very excited, and he’s looking forward to spending time with his family and being free, being able to have the sun shining on his face, see the birds, go for a swim in the ocean back in Australia.
“He’s very much looking forward to that.”
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Assange brother praises ‘global effort’
Craig Murray, a friend of Assange, told Sky News the news was “absolutely wonderful”.
He said: “The whole family is totally elated that we have finally got an end to this terrible saga.”
Mr Murray said the entire ordeal has been “very taxing” on Assange with his imprisonment taking a toll on both his physical and mental health.
He added: “We are lucky that he is a very resilient man and he will recover and we will get our Julian fully back.”
Simon Crowther, Amnesty International’s legal adviser, said: “We welcome the news that Julian Assange is to be released, as we believe he should never have been imprisoned like this in the first place.
“The fight to protect freedom of expression continues though. The years-long global spectacle of the prosecution of a publisher for revealing alleged war crimes, crimes against humanity and other human rights violations has undoubtedly done historic damage.”
A more than decade-long fight
Assange has been fighting extradition to the US for more than a decade.
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Australian PM: ‘We want Assange home’
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Who is Julian Assange?
In a January 2021 ruling, then district judge Vanessa Baraitser said he should not be sent to the US, citing a real and “oppressive” risk of suicide, while ruling against him on all other issues.
Later that year, US authorities won a High Court bid to overturn this block, paving the way towards Assange’s extradition.
In June 2022, the UK government approved the extradition of Assange to the US, with then home secretary Priti Patel having signed the extradition order.
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In February of this year, he made one final attempt under UK law to avoid being sent to the US.
In March, Dame Victoria Sharp and Mr Justice Johnson dismissed most of Assange’s legal arguments – but said unless assurances were given by the US, he would be able to bring an appeal on three grounds.
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These assurances were that Assange would be protected by and allowed to rely on the First Amendment – which protects freedom of speech in the US – that he would not be “prejudiced at trial” due to his nationality and the death penalty would not be imposed.
Three months later, in May, two High Court judges ruled he would be allowed to appeal against being extradited, would not face the death penalty and he could rely on the First Amendment if he faced a trial for spying.
The Australian government said it continues to provide consular assistance to Assange.
“Prime Minister Albanese has been clear – Mr Assange’s case has dragged on for too long and there is nothing to be gained by his continued incarceration,” a spokesperson said.
A 13-year-old boy carrying a “realistic appearing” replica firearm has died after being shot by police in New York state, US authorities have said.
The shooting happened after two youths were stopped by officers investigating robberies in Utica, about 240 miles northwest of Manhattan, on Friday evening.
They were approached because they “matched the robbery suspects’ descriptions”, police said.
One of them ran before pointing what appeared to be a handgun at the officers, Utica police chief Mark Williams told reporters.
Police said the boy was carrying a replica gun. Pic: Utica Police Department
Video on social media shows the boy being chased by an officer who wrestles him to the ground.
Two more officers catch up with them, after which a gunshot can be heard.
“Oh my god, he just shot him,” a bystander says.
The shooting happened in Utica, New York state. Pic: AP
The boy was hit in the chest after one of the officers fired a single shot at him, Mr Williams said.
The teenager – named in local reports as Nyah Mway, a refugee from Myanmar – was given first aid at the scene but later died in hospital.
The gun had Glock markings, police said. Pic: Utica Police Department
Pic: Utica Police Department
Officers recovered a replica of a Glock 17 Gen 5 handgun with a detachable magazine, Mr Williams said.
The dummy had “Glock markings, signatures, a detachable magazine and serial numbers”, police spokesperson Lieutenant Michael Curley said.
It was “in all aspects a realistic-appearing firearm”, he added.
“However, ultimately, it fires only pellets or BBs,” Mr Curley said.
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Utica Police Department said its “heartfelt thoughts and prayers” were with Nyah Mway’s family.
“We will continue to be as transparent and accessible to the family and community as legally allowed as this process continues,” the department said on Facebook.
It identified the officers involved as Patrick Husnay, Bryce Patterson and Andrew Citriniti, who have been placed on administrative leave with pay.
Mayor of Utica Michael Galime, on the centre right in a grey jacket, speaks to members of the boy’s family. Pic: AP
“Officer Husnay is the officer that fired his duty weapon, striking the juvenile,” the department said.
“As will be illustrated” in body-worn camera (BWC) footage, “when the officers asked and went to pat frisk Nyah Mway he immediately fled on foot”, it added.
“While fleeing he produced a replica Glock pellet gun from the front of his body, and during the 51 and 53-second mark on officer Patterson’s BWC, points the weapon directly at Officer Patterson and the other officers,” the department said.
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During a meeting at Utica’s city hall on Saturday, its mayor Michael Galime said he understood the “weight of this situation”.
He added: “Everything will be released, and everyone in this room and the entire community will have access to all of that information.”
While some people shouted down officials’ remarks, others called for silence so that members of the boy’s community could hear an interpreter’s translations.
Mr Galime said the city would be transparent in its investigation and that he and other officials would meet privately with the teen’s family and other community members.
Joe Biden has attacked Donald Trump at a rally a day after the president’s “shocking” performance in a head-to-head debate.
“I don’t walk as easy as I used to, I don’t speak as smoothly as I used to, I don’t debate as well as I used to but I know what I do know,” said President Biden. “I know how to tell the truth.”
His performance in the debate against Trump on Thursday night was described as an “unmitigated disaster” by some in his own party after he paused and stumbled his way through, prompting calls for him to step down.
“I give you my word as a Biden, I wouldn’t be running again if I did not believe, with all my heart and soul, I can do this job,” he told the rally in North Carolina.
Mr Biden attacked the former president’s criminal record, calling Donald Trump a “one-man crimewave”.
President Biden greets supporters as he arrives in Raleigh. Pic: AP
“My guess is he set a new record for the most lies told in a single debate,” he added, telling the crowd he spent “90 minutes on the stage debating a guy with the morals of an alley cat”.
Donald Trump at rally in Virginia after debating President Joe Biden
Hours later, Donald Trump was jubilant at a rally in Chesapeak, Virginia.
“Never mind that crooked Joe Biden spent a week at Camp David, resting, working, studying – he studied so hard he didn’t know what the hell he was doing,” said Mr Trump to the crowd.
“Biden’s problem is not his age, […] he’s got no problem other than his competence. He’s grossly incompetent,” he added.
Bad debate nights happen
Barack Obama tweeted his support for President Biden on Friday evening, saying: “Bad debate nights happen. Trust me, I know.”
But others remained unconvinced Joe Biden should run for president.
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Joe Biden appears to stall during debate
“I do not think President Joe Biden can be the Democratic Party’s standard-bearer in 2024,” former White House director of global engagement Brett Bruen told Sky News’ Yalda Hakim.
“Last night’s performance was astonishingly bad. You cannot just be strong on the teleprompter,” he said.
But Anthony Scaramucci, former White House communications director, blamed the president’s poor performance on his preparation.
“He wasn’t prepped right for that debate. He’s an older man,” Mr Scaramucci told Yalda Hakim.
“You don’t fill his head with facts and figures he’s never going to remember.”
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Biden v Trump: What you need to know
There have been repeated calls for President Biden to step down.
It’s “time to talk about an open convention and a new Democratic nominee,” one Democratic politician told Sky’s US partner network NBC News.
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Biden performance against Trump was among worst in presidential history
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Kamala Harris says Biden had a ‘slow start’ but he ‘pushed facts’ while Donald Trump ‘pushed lies’.
However, while Vice President Kamala Harris acknowledged that President Joe Biden had a “slow start” in the debate, she insisted that he finished “strong”.
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At a Waffle House restaurant in Atlanta after the debate, Biden told reporters he did not have concerns about his performance. “It’s hard to debate a liar,” he said.
Joe Biden’s stumbling performance in the US presidential debate has sparked alarm among Democrats – but could he be replaced against his will and how might that work?
A national US party has never tried to force an election candidate to step down in the modern era and their rules make it almost impossible to do so.
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The issue came before both parties in 2016, but neither took action and there’s currently no known effort to force Mr Biden to give way.
It would mean Democrat officials overturning the results of the state primaries – the votes that took place earlier this year that confirmed Mr Biden as the overwhelming pick for November’s election.
The 81-year-old won virtually all the delegates – and they are now set to go through the customary process of rubberstamping his nomination at the Democratic National Convention in August.
There are ways to replace a nominee if they die, resign or are incapacitated, but forcing Mr Biden out would mean delegates choosing another candidate.
It appears highly unlikely, as they were chosen in the primaries because of their loyalty to the president and with the trust that they would vote for him at the convention.
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However, there is a potential “loophole” in that Democrat rules allow them to “in all good conscience reflect the sentiments of those who elected them”.
So if concerns about his performance and mental acuity reach critical level this could be a way forward.
Watch a special programme with reaction to the US presidential debate on The World with Yalda Hakim on Sky News from 6pm
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Biden appears to stall during debate
What if Biden withdraws himself?
This is the only plausible scenario for the Democrats to choose a new candidate to take on Donald Trump.
Mr Biden has repeatedly dismissed this option during other turbulent times, but if he changed his mind he could simply serve out the remaining months of his presidency.
Such a U-turn would create a frenzy among Democrats as there’s no protocol in place for him or the party to choose a new candidate before August’s convention.
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It takes a majority of the party’s 4,000 or so delegates to win the presidential nomination – and Mr Biden secured about 3,900 of them in the primaries.
The president would have some influence over his pledged delegates, but ultimately they can vote as they please – so it could become a ‘free for all’ with candidates campaigning aggressively to win them over.
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Kamala Harris says Biden had a ‘slow start’.
If the president decides to pull out after the convention takes place, the chair of the party can call a special meeting of around 500 members.
They can – in theory – choose a new nominee via a simple majority vote.
However, such a process would likely be far more turbulent with behind-the-scenes jockeying and public campaigning.
If Mr Biden withdrew even closer to the 5 November election, it could raise constitutional, legal and practical concerns.
For example, voting papers have to be printed well in advance and it might not be possible to change them in time.
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Would vice president Kamala Harris replace Biden?
If Mr Biden were to resign immediately as president, Kamala Harris would automatically succeed him – but would not also become Democratic nominee.
She might be politically favoured if he ditched his re-election bid, but Mr Biden’s delegates would not transfer to her as of right, and it would be a level playing field with the other hopefuls.
Who could be favourite if Biden steps back?
Two frontunners – if they chose to put themselves forward – could be California governor Gavin Newsom, 56, or Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer.
They didn’t enter this year’s primaries but have both been talked about as potential Democrat nominees in future.
For now at least, Mr Newsom appears to be sticking firmly behind the president.
Gavin Newsom (right) is often talked about as a potential future nominee. Pic: AP
He told reporters after Thursday’s debate his party “could not be more wholly unified behind Biden” and he shouldn’t step aside.
Mr Newsom has been California governor since 2019 and was also San Francisco’s mayor for seven years. Before that, he founded a winery in the state’s upmarket Napa Valley.
Ms Whitmer, a lawyer and former prosecutor, was the Senate’s first female Democratic leader and became governor in 2018.
The 52-year-old also served as co-chair of Joe Biden’s 2020 election campaign.
Gretchen Whitmer has been talked about as a possible future nominee. Pic: Reuters
She’s previously said she would have no interest in replacing Mr Biden in this year’s election – and backed him again on Friday.
“Joe Biden is running to serve the American people. Donald Trump is running to serve Donald Trump,” she said.
However, if the president pulls out of his own volition, could she change her mind?
Democrats including Minnesota’s Dean Phillips and Jason Palmer, who actually beat Mr Biden in American Samoa, might also try their hand.
They were his main rivals in the primaries but only got a couple of delegates each, so would likely struggle to pull in enough support.
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