Welcome to the news hour. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, a brave

whistleblower to his allies, a national security threat to his critics, is on

the verge of being a free man.

Assange is pleading guilty in a court in the Northern Mariana Islands,

that's the U.S. Commonwealth,

and will be sentenced to time served, allowing him to return

to his native Australia.

Nick Schifran is here tracking this story. Nick.

Jeff, Assange is notorious for some of the largest leaks of classified information in

U.S. history as well as posting emails that played an outsized role in the 2016 election.

And tonight the WikiLeaks founder is ending a decade-long legal saga with the U.S. and heading

home.

Tonight Julian Assange's brief and final moments on home. Mariana Islands. His road to freedom began this morning on the way to a British airport.

Signing his plea deal documents and landing in Bangkok his first time outside the United

Kingdom in 14 years.

Court documents reveal that Assange will plead guilty to a single felony to receive and

obtain documents, writings, and notes connected with the national defense, including such materials classified up to the secret. and

willfully communicate documents relating to the national defense.

And willfully communicate documents relating to the national defense.

He will spend no time in US jail

and more than 62 months spent in a British prison will count for time served,

allowing him to return to his native Australia, where Prime Minister Anthony Albanese today celebrated his release.

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