 Judge Ramona Manglotnia concluded that the 62 months Assange had already spent in a UK prison was enough of a punishment. She let him go free on the condition that he leave the United States and its territories. During the court session, Assange explained that as a journalist, he encouraged a source to give him classified information to publish. He believed this was protected by the First Amendment, which guarantees free speech, but he also accepted the consequences of publishing classified information.