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Julian Assange speaks to the media from the balcony of the Embassy Of Ecuador on May 19, 2017 in London, England.
CNN
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The Justice Department had preliminary discussions a couple of plea deal with Julian Assange’s attorneys at one level within the case towards him over his alleged mishandling of labeled materials, although a deal is neither imminent nor assured, in accordance with an individual briefed on the matter.
Such discussions are a routine characteristic of prison instances, and there haven’t been latest talks a couple of plea within the WikiLeaks founder’s case. There just isn’t at present an official plea provide from US prosecutors, the supply mentioned.
“We have been given no indication that the Department of Justice intends to resolve the case, and the United States is continuing with as much determination as ever to seek his extradition on all 18 charges, exposing him to 175 years in prison,” Barry Pollack, an lawyer for Assange, mentioned in an announcement to CNN.
The Justice Department declined to remark.
The Wall Street Journal first reported on the discussions.
The case towards Assange was unsealed in 2019 in Virginia in connection with the publication of hundreds of paperwork containing navy secrets and techniques and different delicate data leaked by an Army intelligence analyst.
Assange could quickly must face the US justice system and expenses beneath the Espionage Act after years of him combating extradition. He is at present behind bars within the United Kingdom, awaiting a ruling on whether or not he might be allowed to attraction a UK resolution to extradite him to the US.
