I don't know the details of how the US legal system works but isn't a plea bargain essentially the same as a settlement in civil cases?

If so, it should (at least in theory) have very little prejudicial value since the courts did not rule on the question if Assange's culpability.

I know that in the real world the US regime once again learned that it can get away with murder and journalists all over the world have already learned the lesson that the evil empire will fuck them up if they air their dirty laundry. But from a legal nerd point of view a settlement should be quite useles as a precedent.