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The Journal reported that the U.S. Justice Department is
considering whether to allow Assange to plead guilty to a
reduced charge of mishandling classified information. The
newspaper cited people familiar with the matter.
A spokesperson for the Justice Department declined to comment on
the report.
"It is inappropriate for Mr. Assange's lawyers to comment while
his case is before the UK High Court other than to say we have
been given no indication that the Department of Justice intends
to resolve the case and the United States is continuing with as
much determination as ever to seek his extradition on all 18
charges, exposing him to 175 years in prison," Assange's lawyer,
Barry Pollack, said in an emailed statement.
The WSJ said that in recent months officials at the Justice
Department and Assange's legal team have had preliminary
discussions about a plea deal but that the discussions "remain
in flux and the talks could fizzle."
Assange is battling extradition from Britain to the U.S., where
he is wanted on criminal charges over the release of
confidential U.S. military records and diplomatic cables in
2010. Washington says the release of the documents had put lives
in danger.
Assange's supporters say he is an anti-establishment hero who
has been victimized because he exposed U.S. wrongdoing,
including in conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. If extradited,
Assange faces a sentence of up to 175 years in a maximum
security prison.
Multiple rights groups, leading media organizations and the
leaders of countries like Mexico, Brazil and Australia have
urged the charges against Assange, who is an Australian citizen,
be dropped.
(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington, Editing by William
Maclean)
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