WikiLeaks Founder Julian Assange Leaves Court In Saipan As A Free Man

SAIPAN, NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS - JUNE 26: WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange leaves the United States Courthouse on June 26, 2024 in Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands. Julian Assange, the WikiLeaks founder, appeared before the U.S. District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands in Saipan on Wednesday for a change of plea hearing. Following his guilty plea to a felony charge under the Espionage Act, Assange was sentenced to time served and subsequently released, paving the way for his return to Australia as a free man, after years of incarceration and intense lobbying for his release from across the political spectrum. Assange's lawyer said that the work of WikiLeaks will continue "and Mr Assange, I have no doubt, will be a continuing force for freedom of speech and transparency in government," media reports said. (Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)