“The U.S. Justice Department is considering whether to allow Julian Assange to plead guilty to a reduced charge of mishandling classified information, opening up the possibility of a deal that could eventually result in his release from a British jail,” the Wall Street Journal reports.
“Justice Department officials and Assange’s lawyers have had preliminary discussions in recent months about what a plea deal could look like to end the lengthy legal drama, a potential softening in a standoff filled with political and legal complexities.
”“The talks come as Assange has spent some five years behind bars. U.S. prosecutors face diminishing odds that he would serve much more time even if he were convicted stateside.”