Julian Assange Jul 3, 1971: Julian Assange is born in Queensland, Australia 1980s: Gains reputation as computer programmer 2006: Founds internet-based WikiLeaks to publish classified leaks from anonymous sources Apr 5, 2010: WikiLeaks releases leaked U.S. helicopter video (above) of Baghdad airstrike in 2007 that kills 11 civilians, including two Reuters journalists Jul-Nov: WikiLeaks releases some 500,000 secret U.S. files and cables chronicling foreign leaders and wars in Iraq and Afghanistan Nov: Swedish court orders Assange’s arrest over rape allegations, which he denies Dec: Assange arrested in UK on European Arrest Warrant, but freed on bail Feb 2011: UK judge rules Assange should be extradited to Sweden Nov 2011-May 2012: Assange loses series of legal appeals Jun 19: Assange seeks political asylum in London’s Ecuadorian embassy Aug 2015: Sweden drops investigations into some sex allegations Apr 2019: After Ecuador revokes his political asylum, Assange is carried out of embassy and arrested May 1: Sentenced to 50 weeks in jail by British court for skipping bail. He completes sentence early but remains in London’s Belmarsh prison (below) pending extradition hearings May: U.S. grand jury indicts Assange with 18 counts, 17 based on Espionage Act Nov 19: Sweden drops alleged rape investigation Feb 2020: Assange faces U.S. extradition hearing. If found guilty under Espionage Act Assange faces life in prison Jan 2021: At London’s Old Bailey court (above), judge rules Assange cannot be extradited to U.S. due to fears he may take his own life in prison Oct 21: U.S. begins High Court bid to overturn extradition decision Mar 23, 2022: Assange marries long-term partner Stella Moris (below) – mother of his two children fathered inside Ecuadorean embassy – in prison Jun 17: British government approves extradition, prompting Assange to appeal Jun 2023: British High Court rules Assange has no legal right to appeal Feb 20, 2024: Assange launches final attempt to prevent extradition Mar 26: Extradition put on hold when court says U.S. must give assurances that Assange will not face death penalty May 20: Court rules Assange can appeal extradition on freedom of speech grounds June 24: Assange freed from prison. Leaves UK (below) after agreeing to U.S. deal that will see him plead guilty to one charge and return home free to Australia Sources: AP, CNN, DOJ, Reuters, Sky News, Sydney Morning Herald Pictures: Getty Images, social media, WikiLeaks © GRAPHIC NEWS