Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, is known for his role in releasing classified U.S. military and diplomatic documents, leading to significant global debates on government transparency and security. He gained international attention in 2010 when WikiLeaks released a massive trove of U.S. military and diplomatic documents, sparking debates on government transparency and security. Assange sought asylum in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London in 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden over sexual assault allegations, which he denies. In June 2024, Assange agreed to a plea deal with U.S. prosecutors, pleading guilty to an Espionage Act charge of conspiring to obtain and disclose classified U.S. national defense documents. Under the terms of the deal, the prosecution sought a sentence that allowed for his immediate release, crediting the time he had already served in a British prison. Assange has since been freed and is set to return to Australia, marking the end of his prolonged legal battles.