WikiLeaks Founder Julian Assange Stops in Bangkok on His Way to US Court and Later Freedom

BANGKOK—A plane carrying Julian Assange landed Tuesday in Bangkok for refueling, as the WikiLeaks founder was on his way to enter a plea deal with the U.S. government that will free him and resolve the legal case that spanned years and continents over the publication of a trove of classified documents.

A chartered flight from London that Mr. Assange’s wife, Stella, confirmed was carrying her husband, landed at Don Mueang International Airport. Officials there told The Associated Press the plane was scheduled to continue on to Saipan, the capital of the Northern Mariana Islands, a U.S. commonwealth in the Pacific, where Mr. Assange is expected to appear in court on Wednesday.

He’s expected to plead guilty to an Espionage Act charge of conspiring to unlawfully obtain and disseminate classified national defense information, according to the U.S. Justice Department in a letter filed in court.

Mr. Assange is expected to return to his home country of Australia after his plea and sentencing. The hearing is taking place in Saipan because of Mr. Assange’s opposition to traveling to the continental U.S. and the court’s proximity to Australia, prosecutors said.

British judicial officials confirmed that Mr. Assange left the UK on Monday evening after being granted bail at a secret hearing last week.

Read Full Article Here