Bitcoin User Donates 8 BTC to Support Assange
An anonymous individual donated over 8 BTC, worth approximately $500,000, to support Julian Assange’s family. They faced significant debt due to his travel and settlement expenses.
Assange Released from Prison
After a 14-year struggle against extradition to the United States, Assange regained his freedom. He needed to pay $520,000 to the Australian government for the chartered flights to Saipan and Australia.
Crowdfunding Campaign Launched
Stella Assange, Julian’s wife, started a crowdfunding campaign to help cover these expenses. She announced the campaign on June 25, emphasizing the financial burden associated with Julian’s travel to freedom.
Massive Debt for Charter Flight
“Julian’s travel to freedom comes at a massive cost: Julian will owe USD 520,000, which he is obligated to pay back to the Australian government for charter Flight VJ199,” Stella Assange wrote on X. The appeal was urgent, seeking donations to cover this significant debt.
Significant Contributions from Bitcoin Community
The crowdfunding campaign attracted substantial attention. Within just 10 hours of the donation link being posted, an anonymous Bitcoiner contributed over 8 Bitcoin, almost reaching the $520,000 goal. Additionally, the fund received over 300,000 British pounds ($380,000) in fiat currency donations. The Bitcoin donation was the largest single contribution, surpassing the total of all other donations combined.
Ongoing Crypto Support for Assange
The crypto community has previously shown support for Assange. In 2023, the AssangeDAO raised millions to bid on an NFT to assist with his legal expenses. Additionally, digital artist Pak collaborated with Assange to release an NFT collection named ‘Censored’.
Details of Assange’s Release
Assange was released from the high-security Belmarsh prison in the UK on June 24, following a plea agreement with U.S. authorities. He immediately took a private flight from London to Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands, avoiding U.S. soil.
Court Appearance and Sentencing
On June 26, Assange appeared in a district court in Saipan, where he pleaded guilty to breaching the U.S. Espionage Act by leaking classified documents. Judge Ramona Manglona sentenced him to five years and two months in prison. However, due to the time already served in the UK, Assange was released as a free man. He then flew to Canberra, Australia, arriving at 9:39 am UTC.
Assange’s Legal Arguments and Plea Deal
Throughout his legal battle, Assange contended that the Espionage Act conflicted with First Amendment rights. Nonetheless, he admitted that encouraging sources to provide classified information for publication could be deemed illegal. As part of his plea deal, Assange agreed to destroy all classified information entrusted to WikiLeaks.
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