WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is on his way to face a final US court hearing on Wednesday under a plea deal that is expected to bring his years-long legal drama to a close and allow him to return to his native Australia as a "free man". Assange's wife Stella said he would be a "free man" after the judge signed off on the plea deal, thanking supporters who have campaigned for his release for years. "We weren't really sure until the last 24 hours that it was actually happening." Under the deal, Assange is due to return to Australia, where the government said his case had "dragged on for too long" and there was "nothing to be gained by his continued incarceration". Stella Assange said on X that her husband would have to repay the Australian government the $520,000 cost of the charter flight and urged supporters to donate cash.
