By Steve Neavling
The Justice Department is considering offering a plea deal to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange in hopes of bringing the lengthy legal drama to a close, Wall Street Journal reports.
Assange is challenging efforts to extradite him from Britian to the U.S., where he is wanted on criminal charges stemming from the release of confidential U.S. military records and diplomatic cables in 2010.
Assange has been in a London prison since U.K. law enforcement officials apprehended him following charges by the U.S. in 2019.
In recent months, DOJ officials and Assange’s lawyers have had “preliminary discussions” exploring the potential of a plea deal to resolve the protracted legal saga.
“The discussions remain in flux, and talks could fizzle,” The Wall Street Journal reports. “Any deal would require approval at the highest levels of the Justice Department.”
According to Reuters, Assange’s attorney said he saw no indication that the U.S. charges would be resolved.
The Justice Department declined to comment about the discussions, but a spokesperson said it was “inappropriate” for Assange’s attorneys to discuss the talks.
