Assange Claims “Guilty Plea to Journalism” Secured His Freedom in Strasbourg Address
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, speaking publicly for the first time since his release from prison, asserted that his freedom was secured through a “guilty plea to journalism,” rather than any perceived justice within the system, CNN reports.
Assange made these remarks during a testimony before the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) in Strasbourg on Tuesday.
The 53-year-old Australian, who spent five years in London’s Belmarsh Prison and nearly seven years seeking refuge at the Ecuadorian embassy, was released in June after pleading guilty to a single felony charge in the United States. This plea bargain, which saw Assange avoid a potential 175-year sentence, has been met with mixed reactions, with many questioning its implications for press freedom and the right to publish truthful information.
“I want to be totally clear: I am not free today because the system worked. I am free today after years of incarceration because I pled guilty to journalism,” Assange said.
He elaborated on his plea, claiming that he “pled guilty to seeking information from a source, I pled guilty to obtaining information from a source, and I pled guilty to informing the public what that information was.”
Assange went on to warn against the “criminalization of newsgathering activities” and stressed the importance of investigative journalism in a free society.
“I was formally convicted by a foreign power for asking, for receiving and publishing truthful information about that power while I was in Europe. The fundamental issue is simple: journalists should not be prosecuted for doing their jobs. Journalism is not a crime. It is a pillar of a free and informed society,” he declared.
His testimony highlighted the limitations of the plea bargain, which prohibits Assange from pursuing any legal action against the US government regarding his extradition and detention.
Despite his freedom, Assange admitted the lingering impact of his years of isolation, stating that adjusting to life outside prison has been challenging. He expressed gratitude for the support of his wife, Stella, and WikiLeaks editor-in-chief, Kristinn Hrafnsson, who accompanied him during his testimony.
