LONDON, June 31, 2009
U.K. Hacker's Extradition Appeal Rejected
High Court Rules Against Autistic Man Sought by U.S. Authorities for Hacking Military Computers
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Gary McKinnon, 40, accused of mounting the largest ever hack of United States government computer networks, listens to a reporter's question outside the Bow Magistrates Court in central London in this May 10, 2006 file photo. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis, file)
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Gary McKinnon is seen through a vehicle window as he driven away from Bow Street Magistrates Court in central London after being freed on bail, 2005. (AP)
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Gary McKinnon has fought a long legal battle to avoid being extradited to the U.S. after he was charged with breaking into 97 computers belonging to NASA, the U.S. Department of Defense and several branches of the U.S. military soon after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
A British High Court rejected his appeals Friday and ruled that he should face extradition.
His lawyers argued that McKinnon should not be extradited because he has Asperger's syndrome, a form of autism, and could be at risk of psychosis or suicide if he is sent to the U.S.
Speaking to reporters outside the High Court in London on Friday, McKinnon's mother appealed directly to President Obama to intervene.
"He wouldn't want this," said Janice Sharp. "Obama wouldn't want the first person extradited for hacking to be someone with Asperger's."
McKinnon has admitted breaking the law by accessing the computers starting in February 2001, which he said he did looking for information on UFOs. He was arrested about a year later in March 2002.
But his mother and a growing list of high-profile advocates argue that his condition would make him highly vulnerable to depression if sentenced to jail in the United States.
"I've committed a crime. I've admitted to it, and I'm very sorry. I've apologized many times, but I think the American authorities' response to the crime far outweighs what would have happened to me in my own country," McKinnon told CBS News partner network Sky News earlier this year. "I'm being treated like a terrorist in America."
McKinnon's mother, asked during her interview with Sky: "Why haven't they ever extradited any other hacker - I'm glad they haven't - and then decide to extradite someone who is vulnerable?"
His attorney says the Asperger's, in part, also led him to so vigorously pursue hacking into the supposedly-secure American networks.
McKinnon has appealed to a range of British courts and the European commission during his seven-year legal battle to avoid extradition to the United States. All have refused to intervene in the case.
© MMIX, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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- The gent has AS and it would cost the tax payers here in America to fly him here. Housed him in a fed prison and putting him in with harden crimmals to will phy abused him.Leave him in the UK as he lives there. The prisoms are full here.
Bush was in the White House. Why is not the govt safe guarding its data so that eysa that should see the data does not. Their systems adms are ther to keep it safe.
I think he was looking for UFOs. I 'member years ago the UFOs thing was big . Yet the govt has never said if they are out there. I really don't know. I don't care. - Reply to this comment
- By breaking into a computer he is as guilty of criminal activity as if he broke into someone's house. He needs to pay a penalty.
But the real crime is not the "breaking and entering" or even what he broke into; the real crime is that he embarrassed the U.S. military and made a bunch of humorless and insecure officials look bad - and deservedly so.
Toss him in the clink, by all means. Let him think about his actions for a year or two. But to confine him for what would amount to a life sentence for inadvertently showing the rest of the world the extent of our incompetence in securing and protecting vital military information is ridiculous. - Reply to this comment
- "I've committed a crime. I've admitted to it, and I'm very sorry. I've apologized many times, but I think the American authorities' response to the crime far outweighs what would have happened to me in my own country,"
Well, buddy, as smart as you are, you could have spent some time finding out what was going to happen to you if you hacked in other countries' computers and if you didn't like what you found, you should have restricted your hacking to the UK.
For such a smart guy, he certainly made some really dumb choices. - Reply to this comment
- well do you expect from the British government? They've always have been spineless and crooked. You'd expect your government to fight extradiation in a situation like this? I mean your mentally disabled, he is not normal.
Maybe instead of trying make an example out of a disabled guy the should look for a dental care reform maybe? God knows they need it. - Reply to this comment
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- so why didn't you post it under the different comment?
And whats wrong zionist? You don't like the message so you decide to slander the messenger? These are facts, don't like them go fight Fox News and the all the other government agencies involved that agree.
Im sure your happy and supported this bailout as well mr obama lover?
- "Maybe instead of trying make an example out of a disabled guy the should look for a dental care reform maybe? God knows they need it."
He is not 'disabled' or even 'handicapped', he has a condition. Cancer is a condition, so is Diabetesd. I have a 'Handicap' (blind in one eye) but it doesn't stop me from doing most of what I want to do. He knew that he was doing wrong and admits it. I don't know if prison is where he should be or not. I am just telling it like it is!!!!
- As somebody who has his condition, he very well knew right from wrong and he knew what he did was wrong. Trying to fight this on ground that's he's some "poor little handicaped man" makes people living with Asperger syndrome - and other high-functioning autistic-spectrum disorders - and living a normal, healthy though somewhat socially "different" life that much harder.
- so why didn't you post it under the different comment?
- He looks like Spock .... never underestimate a vulcan ! :-)
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- I think alot of it has to do with what he claims to have found. He claims to have found proof of alien ships in US custody as well as alternative energy sources derived from extra-terrestrial research and back-engineering of craft. As far as damage to US equiptment- the actual cost is about $500 USD- he "hacked" computers that had no passwords.
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- To jincstress:
Good points! He IS being punished because he DID find a bunch of information that SHOULD HAVE been released to the U.S. public decades ago!
And, you're correct about the damage! There was NO real attributive damage to the equipment (hardware) or software! But, it helps the U.S. government's case to claim there was!
But, as Mr. McKinnon says,"I'm being treated like a terrorist in America." That's right! That's what you get for breaking into U.S. government computer systems! It's a little bit MORE THAN an 'I'm sorry' offense!
Originally, I felt he should be locked up and the key should be thrown away! But upon further consideration, I've changed my position. What good would it really do?
He's not a violent offender, he ends up taking up valuable space that should rightfully be saved for 'hardened criminals'! For what purpose?
Because he embarrassed the U.S.government? It's not his fault our
government doesn't protect it's pc systems! Many others from friendly and unfriendly governments routinely break in, do we go after them?
NO! So, why 'pick on' this guy? Because he's a 'small fry' and wasn't
representing a government at the time he made his illegal incursion?
NO! Cut some plea deal, so he does six months to a year of jail time
locally in the U.K., confiscate all pc gear (if that hasn't been done),
and give him a LIFETIME bar of the internet so he can NEVER get back
on it again! THAT, will hurt him more than anything, if that is what
the authorities wish to do!
- To jincstress:
- If someone with autism can break into 97 government computers how safe is the system?
Could some bright 12 year old looking for information on Area 51 be able to launch a nuclear strike on Moscow?
I would not want to be a NASA astronaut knowing that someone could hack into the system and send the shuttle hurtling off into space to look for the aliens from Roswell. - Reply to this comment
The road ahead in Afghanistan, and the crucial decision Obama faces.
