Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, recently pleaded guilty in an American court to publishing military secrets but was released as part of a prior agreement with US authorities, as reported by the BBC. The hearing took place in the Federal District Court of the Northern Mariana Islands, where Assange arrived from London.
Judge Ramona Manglona found Assange guilty of conspiracy to obtain and disclose classified national defense information but decided to count his time in Belmarsh prison in London as part of his sentence. The more serious charges were dropped, and the extradition request was withdrawn.
Following his release from prison, Assange flew to Bangkok and then to the Northern Mariana Islands. US prosecutors chose the location for the hearing strategically, as Assange preferred not to plead guilty on the mainland. After the hearing, Assange flew to Canberra, Australia, where he did not make any statements to the press.