Source: Tom's Guide | Keywords: Gary, McKinnon, NASA, Pentagon, Hacker | Themes: Business, Networking
A former prosecutor working on the case of UK hacker Gary McKinnon has said that the alleged cyber criminal is “grasping at straws” and that his extradition to the U.S. is imminent.
McKinnon is accused of scanning over 73,000 U.S. government computers (including NASA and Pentagon machines) and gaining access to 97 of them with his dial-up modem and some off-the-shelf software. McKinnon allegedly took over 2,000 computers offline at the U.S. Army Military District of Washington for 24 hours and disable a network of 300 machines at a Naval weapons station in New Jersey. His antics cost the U.S. government a reported $700,000 in damages.
Last month McKinnon’s appeal to block extradition to the U.S. was blocked by the UK House of Lords. McKinnon’s lawyers said that while the House of Lords was his last option in the UK, they would be appealing to the European Court of Human Rights. His extradition is on hold pending a final decision on August 28.
Scott Christie, the first prosecutor involved in the case, doubts that the European Court for Human Rights (a court that addresses violations of human rights) will side with McKinnon at this stage in the game.
"At this point and time, there’s no indication the European court will give any credibility to his argument. It would be premature for him to believe that he has found a sympathetic shoulder to cry on. For all the reasons he didn’t prevail in the U.K., he shouldn’t prevail there,” said Christie “Enough already, Mr. McKinnon."
McKinnon is afraid that if he is extradited he will have to stand trial in a military court as a terrorist, and ultimately, end up serving out his sentence in Guantanamo Bay. Christie also believes that these fears are irrational.
"Mr. McKinnon has never been classified in that manner or treated in that manner, as far as I’m aware. He will be treated as a normal criminal defendant in the civil court system of this country,” Christie added. “He’s a run-of-the-mill criminal with a run-of-the-mill crime."
McKinnon’s hacking was, he claims, an effort to uncover X-Files type information regarding UFOs he thought the government was trying to hide. However, evidence suggests otherwise. During questioning Gary McKinnon admitted to leaving a note on one government computer criticizing U.S. foreign policy.
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AOL Spammer Michael Dolan...
Funny, what an idiot. Though, I do think it would be harsh if they put him on military trial because he pretty much shut down some secretary computers and computers meant for online access to soldiers n such. Even a tard in a mental hospital could tell ya some so called x-files and ultra secret military files would be held on a private military network.
Getting put into a US Jail is a Human Rights violation. I don't see why people can't see it.
Last I remember states/counties with the tougher prison systems have lowered crime rates and re-institutionalize rates. Oh ya there's also the thing were the average US criminal has no prob ripping out the throat of the guy standing in front of him, while everywhere else in the world, minus South America n Russia, their criminals are scared stealing gum out of a gas station store. The learned lesson of this is tough people (American criminals) react to tough punishment (Some American prisons).
If he's so run-of-the-mill then why go to such extraordinary lengths, embarrassment perhaps. Or just run of the mill American arrogance.
From most of the reports I have seen, a lot of criminals have it better in jail than those of us on the outside. Cable TV, free meals, exercise rooms, air conditioning, libraries, internet access...
Sure not everything on the inside is peachy keen, but it ain't like being in hell either (depending on where you get incarcerated of course)
Where on earth do people get the idea that jail is some kind of country club? I'm sick of these idiotic comments every time the subject of a prison sentence is mentioned. In America, as in most countries, high and medium security prisons are hellish, frightening places, with constant noise, shouting and banging, communal showers, and worse. To be removed from your friends, loved ones, pets, and familiar comforts, is a significant punishment for most people, but for a sensitive person, say, a white collar criminal, it can be a soul-destroying place.