Possible plea deal could help WikiLeaks’ Julian Assange avert espionage charges
Mar 22
By Lauren Taylor (Anchor), Evan Hummel (Producer), Jake Maslo (Video Editor)
This report was created with support from enhanced software.
Media Landscape
See who else is reporting on this story and which side of the political spectrum they lean. To read other sources, click on the plus signs below.
Learn more about this dataLeft 31%
Center 25%
Right 44%
Bias Distribution
US reportedly considering plea deal offer for Julian Assange
Click to see story on The Guardian
Justice Department held plea deal discussions with Assange
Click to see story on CNN
Assange supporters welcome possible plea deal with US
Click to see story on Sydney Morning Herald
Julian Assange’s legal team sees ‘no indication’ of resolution in extradition case
Click to see story on SBS News
USA is apparently considering a deal offer in the Assange case
Click to see story on der Standard AT
Justice Department, Julian Assange Lawyers Exploring Possible Deal for Reduced Charge: Report
Click to see story on Mediaite
Wyborcza.pl
Click to see story on Gazeta Wyborcza
Click to close
Assange team sees no sign of resolving US charges after reported plea deal talks
Click to see story on Reuters
Justice Department held plea deal discussions with Assange
Click to see story on KRDO
The US considers withdrawing Assange’s extradition request for espionage
Click to see story on www.larazon.es
Julian Assange May Be Offered Plea Deal
Click to see story on Political Wire
Back to Assange, the U.S. offers a response
Click to see story on ANSA
WSJ: USA võib pakkuda Assange’ile kokkuleppemenetlust
Click to see story on Eesti Rahvusringhääling
Julian Assange, Justice Department Exploring Guilty Plea to End 14-Year Legal Drama
Click to see story on Wall Street Journal
Report: Justice Department Considering Plea Deal for Assange – News From Antiwar.com
Click to see story on antiwar.com
Click to close
US considering plea deal for WikiLeaks’ Julian Assange to end extradition battle: report
Click to see story on New York Post
Assange team sees no sign of resolving US charges after reported plea deal talks
Click to see story on The Straits Times
Assange’s lawyer questioned the US’s willingness to make a deal
Click to see story on RIA Novosti [🇷🇺-affiliated]
Assange team sees no sign of resolving US charges
Click to see story on The West Australian
USA is allegedly planning a deal with investigative activist Julian Assange
Click to see story on Die Presse
The US has decided to consider the possibility of mitigating the charges against Assange
Click to see story on Lenta.RU [🇷🇺-affiliated]
Assange faces 175 years in prison – now considering releasing him by the US.
Click to see story on Jyllands-Posten
Headline Unavailable
Click to see story on The Australian
“Possibly Wikileaks Agreement.” U.S. may release Assange
Click to see story on ilgiornale.it
Click to close
Assange team sees no sign of resolving US charges after reported plea deal talks
Click to see story on The Star Kuala Lumpur
Julian Assange could get DOJ plea deal for reduced misdemeanor charge after 5 year legal saga: report
Click to see story on The Post Millennial
Justice Department Reportedly in Discussions With Julian Assange Over Potential Plea Deal
Click to see story on The New York Sun
Assange, the US is open to a plea bargain
Click to see story on Il Primato Nazionale
DoJ is ‘considering giving Wikileaks founder <br/>Julian Assange a plea deal that would <br/>allow him to avoid extradition and plead <br/>guilty to misdemeanor charge of mishandling <br/>classified information’
Click to see story on Lucianne
Click to close
Far
Right
+0
Click to close
Untracked Bias
The US may be considering offering a legal settlement to Assange
Click to see story on Noticias ao Minuto
Assange team sees no sign of resolving US charges
Click to see story on PerthNow
Deal with USA? : A glimmer of hope for Assange
Click to see story on ORF.at News
Assange released soon? What punishment the whistleblower could still face
Click to see story on rnd.de
Assange to be allowed to plead guilty to reduced charge?
Click to see story on Armenian News
Julian Assange’s lawyers negotiate with US government
Click to see story on Heise
Assange released soon? What punishment the whistleblower could still face
Click to see story on LVZ – Leipziger Volkszeitung
Gives little to possible court settlement in US case against Assange
Click to see story on Vísir
Julian Assange: Possible guilty plea deal with reduced charge
Click to see story on in.gr
Assange could possibly be brought to court
Click to see story on RÚV
Whistleblower: Bekommt Julian Assange einen Deal mit den USA?
Click to see story on www.kleinezeitung.at
WSJ: Assange could be released
Click to see story on Aydınlık
Flight strike magazine: The USA is considering a milder indictment for Julian Assange.
Click to see story on n1info.rs
WSJ: Assange may enter into a deal with the U.S. Ministry of Justice for release
Click to see story on RTVI
Assange can sign a US-Justicia agreement to get out of jail, a newspaper says.
Click to see story on folha.com.br
Assange team sees no sign of resolving US charges after reported plea deal talks
Click to see story on bluewaterhealthyliving.com
Assange and the US Department of Justice discuss admission to exemption from extradition
Click to see story on 星島頭條網
Click to close
49 other sources covering this story
Total News Sources
49
Leaning Left
10
Center
8
Leaning Right
14
Last Updated
2 months ago
Federal prosecutors are in talks to allow WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to avoid espionage charges by instead pleading guilty to a lesser offense of mishandling classified information, as reported by The Wall Street Journal. The possible agreement could lead to Assange being released from prison.
Assange, known for his WikiLeaks disclosures, faces extradition to the U.S. for publishing classified military documents and diplomatic communications. Right now, Assange is in a London prison, and he is fighting extradition efforts. While Assange is in prison, his legal team is looking at the potential plea deal.
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The talks between the Justice Department and Assange’s lawyers come after years of legal fights. Under the possible plea deal, Assange could remotely plead guilty to mishandling classified documents, a misdemeanor crime. If a deal is reached, he could be released from prison after the agreement is finalized. The reason for the early release would be because he reportedly would be given credit for time served.
However, approval from the highest levels of the Justice Department is needed for any deal to progress.
Assange’s case presents complex legal and political obstacles. The Obama administration chose not to prosecute him, expressing concerns about the implications for journalistic practices.
With Assange again in the spotlight, there is renewed debate over the lines between journalism and national security. A plea deal would also allow the U.S. to avoid a controversial trial and debate over the Espionage Act.
[LAUREN TAYLOR]
FEDERAL PROSECUTORS ARE IN TALKS — TO ALLOW WIKILEAKS FOUNDER JULIAN ASSANGE — TO AVOID ESPIONAGE CHARGES BY PLEADING GUILTY TO A LESSER CHARGE OF MISHANDLING CLASSIFIED INFORMATION. IF A DEAL IS WORKED OUT IT COULD LEAD TO ASSANGE’S RELEASE FROM PRISON.
ASSANGE is KNOWN FOR WIKILEAKS DISCLOSURES — and FACES EXTRADITION TO THE U-S FOR PUBLISHING CLASSIFIED MILITARY RECORDS AND DIPLOMATIC COMMUNICATIONS. HE’S CURRENTLY IN A LONDON PRISON, FIGHTING EXTRADITION, AS HIS LEGAL TEAM EXPLORES THE POSSIBILITY OF A PLEA DEAL.
THE TALKS BETWEEN THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT AND ASSANGE’S LAWYERS COME AFTER YEARS OF LEGAL BICKERING.
IF A DEAL IS REACHED, ASSANGE COULD PLEAD GUILTY REMOTELY TO MISHANDLING CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS, A MISDEMEANOR OFFENSE. THIS WOULD ALLOW HIM TO LEAVE PRISON SHORTLY AFTER THE AGREEMENT IS FINALIZED DUE TO TIME SERVED.
APPROVAL FROM THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT WOULD BE NEEDED FOR ANY DEAL TO GO FORWARD.
ASSANGE’S CASE POSES COMPLEX LEGAL AND POLITICAL CHALLENGES. THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION REFRAINED FROM PROSECUTING ASSANGE, CITING CONCERNS ABOUT THE IMPACT ON JOURNALISTIC PRACTICES.
WITH ASSANGE’S CASE BACK IN THE SPOTLIGHT, THERE IS RENEWED DEBATE OVER THE BOUNDARIES BETWEEN JOURNALISM AND NATIONAL SECURITY. A PLEA DEAL COULD OFFER A WAY TO AVOID A CONTENTIOUS TRIAL AND POTENTIAL CLASHES OVER THE ESPIONAGE ACT.
Related
Media Landscape
See who else is reporting on this story and which side of the political spectrum they lean. To read other sources, click on the plus signs below.
Learn more about this dataLeft 31%
Center 25%
Right 44%
Bias Distribution
US reportedly considering plea deal offer for Julian Assange
Click to see story on The Guardian
Justice Department held plea deal discussions with Assange
Click to see story on CNN
Assange supporters welcome possible plea deal with US
Click to see story on Sydney Morning Herald
Julian Assange’s legal team sees ‘no indication’ of resolution in extradition case
Click to see story on SBS News
USA is apparently considering a deal offer in the Assange case
Click to see story on der Standard AT
Justice Department, Julian Assange Lawyers Exploring Possible Deal for Reduced Charge: Report
Click to see story on Mediaite
Wyborcza.pl
Click to see story on Gazeta Wyborcza
Click to close
Assange team sees no sign of resolving US charges after reported plea deal talks
Click to see story on Reuters
Justice Department held plea deal discussions with Assange
Click to see story on KRDO
The US considers withdrawing Assange’s extradition request for espionage
Click to see story on www.larazon.es
Julian Assange May Be Offered Plea Deal
Click to see story on Political Wire
Back to Assange, the U.S. offers a response
Click to see story on ANSA
WSJ: USA võib pakkuda Assange’ile kokkuleppemenetlust
Click to see story on Eesti Rahvusringhääling
Julian Assange, Justice Department Exploring Guilty Plea to End 14-Year Legal Drama
Click to see story on Wall Street Journal
Report: Justice Department Considering Plea Deal for Assange – News From Antiwar.com
Click to see story on antiwar.com
Click to close
US considering plea deal for WikiLeaks’ Julian Assange to end extradition battle: report
Click to see story on New York Post
Assange team sees no sign of resolving US charges after reported plea deal talks
Click to see story on The Straits Times
Assange’s lawyer questioned the US’s willingness to make a deal
Click to see story on RIA Novosti [🇷🇺-affiliated]
Assange team sees no sign of resolving US charges
Click to see story on The West Australian
USA is allegedly planning a deal with investigative activist Julian Assange
Click to see story on Die Presse
The US has decided to consider the possibility of mitigating the charges against Assange
Click to see story on Lenta.RU [🇷🇺-affiliated]
Assange faces 175 years in prison – now considering releasing him by the US.
Click to see story on Jyllands-Posten
Headline Unavailable
Click to see story on The Australian
“Possibly Wikileaks Agreement.” U.S. may release Assange
Click to see story on ilgiornale.it
Click to close
Assange team sees no sign of resolving US charges after reported plea deal talks
Click to see story on The Star Kuala Lumpur
Julian Assange could get DOJ plea deal for reduced misdemeanor charge after 5 year legal saga: report
Click to see story on The Post Millennial
Justice Department Reportedly in Discussions With Julian Assange Over Potential Plea Deal
Click to see story on The New York Sun
Assange, the US is open to a plea bargain
Click to see story on Il Primato Nazionale
DoJ is ‘considering giving Wikileaks founder <br/>Julian Assange a plea deal that would <br/>allow him to avoid extradition and plead <br/>guilty to misdemeanor charge of mishandling <br/>classified information’
Click to see story on Lucianne
Click to close
Far
Right
+0
Click to close
Untracked Bias
The US may be considering offering a legal settlement to Assange
Click to see story on Noticias ao Minuto
Assange team sees no sign of resolving US charges
Click to see story on PerthNow
Deal with USA? : A glimmer of hope for Assange
Click to see story on ORF.at News
Assange released soon? What punishment the whistleblower could still face
Click to see story on rnd.de
Assange to be allowed to plead guilty to reduced charge?
Click to see story on Armenian News
Julian Assange’s lawyers negotiate with US government
Click to see story on Heise
Assange released soon? What punishment the whistleblower could still face
Click to see story on LVZ – Leipziger Volkszeitung
Gives little to possible court settlement in US case against Assange
Click to see story on Vísir
Julian Assange: Possible guilty plea deal with reduced charge
Click to see story on in.gr
Assange could possibly be brought to court
Click to see story on RÚV
Whistleblower: Bekommt Julian Assange einen Deal mit den USA?
Click to see story on www.kleinezeitung.at
WSJ: Assange could be released
Click to see story on Aydınlık
Flight strike magazine: The USA is considering a milder indictment for Julian Assange.
Click to see story on n1info.rs
WSJ: Assange may enter into a deal with the U.S. Ministry of Justice for release
Click to see story on RTVI
Assange can sign a US-Justicia agreement to get out of jail, a newspaper says.
Click to see story on folha.com.br
Assange team sees no sign of resolving US charges after reported plea deal talks
Click to see story on bluewaterhealthyliving.com
Assange and the US Department of Justice discuss admission to exemption from extradition
Click to see story on 星島頭條網
Click to close
49 other sources covering this story
Total News Sources
49
Leaning Left
10
Center
8
Leaning Right
14
Last Updated
2 months ago
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