Julian Assange

The WikiLeaks founder pleaded guilty to one count of violating espionage laws in a U.S. court in the Northern Mariana Islands, where the judge sentenced him to time served for his lengthy prison stay.

Assange pleaded guilty to a felony charge of violating the Espionage Act. His court hearing was held in Saipan, in the Northern Mariana Islands, a U.S. commonwealth.

Under the deal, Assange faces a sentence of 62 months, equivalent to the time he has already served in Britain. He is expected to be released and to return to Australia following the court proceeding.

The U.S. is hoping to extradite the WikiLeaks founder and try him for espionage. A court in London says Assange is free to appeal the extradition, the latest twist in years-long legal drama.

Julian Assange's lawyers will begin their final U.K. legal challenge on Tuesday to stop the WikiLeaks founder from being sent to the United States to face spying charges.

The recently elected Australian prime minister declined to say whether he had spoken to U.S. President Joe Biden about the case.

The WikiLeaks founder will face 18 federal counts — whenever he's brought to a U.S. courthouse in Virginia. For now, he has at least one more avenue of appeal.

WikiLeaks said it would appeal. The decision is a big moment in Assange's years-long battle to avoid facing trial in the U.S. — though not necessarily the end of the tale.

A British judge on Wednesday formally approved the extradition of Julian Assange to the United States to face spying charges. The case will now go to Britain's interior minister for a decision.

Lawyers for the WikiLeaks founder have 14 days to submit their application to the U.K.'s Supreme Court, which will decide whether to hear the case. His supporters see the ruling as a partial win.