UPDATED W/TRANSCRIPT: David Hicks took a so-called Alford Plea to get out of Guantanamo, pleading guilty to a single charge, but also allowed to assert his innocence. Such a plea could be offered to Assange.
The U.S. ambassador to Australia told a Sydney newspaper that “there absolutely could be a resolution” of the case just weeks after U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told Australia that the prosecution would continue, reports Joe Lauria.
The U.S. president would not likely move on the case without some face-saving measure to ward off pressure from the C.I.A. and his own party, writes Joe Lauria.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong was asked point blank whether the prime minister raised Julian Assange with Joe Biden in San Diego last month. Chaos ensued.