Julian Assange’s plea deal is more about Biden and Trump than justice

According to senior Washington officials, Kim Sengupta writes, President Biden did not want Assange to be taken to the US for a trial which would infuriate progressive Democrats, already at odds with him over Gaza

Julian Assange arriving in Bangkok (PA )

The secret negotiations which led to Julian Assange ending the prospect of being sentenced to up to 170 years in an American supermax prison gathered pace five months ago with the US Justice Department indicating for the first time that they would accept a plea bargain deal.

Assange had to plead guilty to a single felony count of illegally obtaining and disclosing national security material. In return he would face no more jail time after spending five years in custody without trial.

In January, Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese stressed that Assange, an Australian citizen, had spent far too long in limbo. About the same time Joe Biden stated that he favoured a resolution to the case which had led to widespread international protests.