Gary McKinnon lost his appeal against extradition yesterday
Gary McKinnon has vowed to take his case to the European Court of Human Rights, after his appeal against extradition was rejected by the House of Lords yesterday.
The Briton stands accused of hacking into top-secret US military computers, and faces a possible life-long prison sentence should his extradition go ahead.
McKinnon told BBC Radio 5 Live that he was "pretty broken up" by the ruling, but claimed that he had acted in the public interest.
"I am extremely sorry I did it, but I think the reaction is completely overstated," he said. "It felt like a moral crusade."
Glasgow-born McKinnon achieved worldwide fame after gaining access to 97 US military and Nasa computers in the biggest military hack in history.
McKinnon hacked into and disrupted numerous US military computers in 2001 and 2002 from his bedroom in North London. Since his arrest in 2002 he has never been formally charged in the UK.
McKinnon has consistently claimed that he is "a bumbling hacker" who was never a threat to security, and that he was only looking for UFO files that he believed the US government was keeping under wraps.
US prosecutors have offered McKinnon, aka 'Solo', a plea bargain. If he pleads guilty to two of the charges he will receive a four-year sentence. Otherwise, the 42 year-old faces a possible 70 years if found guilty of all the charges.
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Do you agree?
Extradition to USA
The US-UK Extradition Treaty 2003 is grossly unjust, with the ability for the USA to extradite citizens of this country without demonstration of evidence, but without any such reciprocal arrangement.
Only a bunch of complete idiots could have a) negotiated this Treaty, and then b) ratified it into UK law with the Extradition Act 2003. (But it would appear that the country was / is being run by a complete bunch of idiots).
We should simply withdraw from this arrangement until the USA is prepared to enter into a reciprocal arrangement, allowing us to extradite the IRA murderers hiding in the USA.
Posted by Russell Grimshaw, 31 Jul 2008
If there's nothing to worry about...
...why not come to the US where you will face a trial? If you have truly done nothing wrong...oh but wait...you have. You admitted it and said "you are sorry". You see, that kind of "liberal" (or libtard) stupid thinking doesn't get you out of committing serious crimes. Is this what has become of the minds of Europeans that they have turned to mush to allow someone to "talk" their way out of crime? (Sorry for those who are offended by me lumping in the UK with the rest of Europe, I know not all of you agree with that senitment). Well I guess it's ok for Americans to hack into the UK's MI5 and MI6 systems or heck...why not go for the Ministry of Defense or Parliament's own systems? Don't be a clown. Own up and man up to what you did, as the saying goes "don't do the crime if you can't do the time". You are apparently not that bright if you didn't consider that while you were "hacking" those systems, friendo.
Posted by Me, 31 Jul 2008
Unfair and Unessesary Justice
The American Government are not being just or fair to Mr McKinnon. They are making and example of Mr McKinnon. To prevent others from hacking there system and move blame for there bad security to a scape goat. There system security will now improve but they are out to make a point. "Don't Mess with us - Have a nice day". Its a shame are government does not have the backbone to stand up against the US Government and stop extradition of a curious and talented man he should be given a job not stuck in a cell.
Posted by Mr D, 31 Jul 2008
i was denied fair trial in usa
From London, it was covered by the Magna Carta right to a fair trial (art 1, 9 and 29 are still English law). As my children were abducted to the USA, and its court of appeals vacated but could not assert a New Trial (even though I was entitled to one on new evidence), The Judge was Virginian and biased against the British. Elevated my bruden to criminal, used wrong law, ignorred Virginian lex Loci deferral to english law, lied about the date of my filings. All proven on appeal. Ignorred all of my relevant evidence. eg her UK immigration, housing, medical, my employment, I can prove the USA does not comply with the Magna Carta. I now have my own courts while the Queen breached the MC, and my own army. You guys are all outlaws. If some nice US sheriffs want to come here I can kill them and get away with it. How screwed up is that. We should stop all us treaties until they prove their word. The gov here doesnt even want to touch my case.
Posted by neil humphrey, 31 Jul 2008
Me, I was hacked by the USA
Me - I was simultaneously hacked by the US State Dept who bi-directionally deals with child abductions "impartially" (right - not) and via Offsol implicating MI5 here. I reported to offsol and MI5 but never got a reply. The US court of Appeals confirmed my story and granted time for me to retype my appeal. Electronic interference with politics and public law is terrorism if you read the 2002? bill. Denying my lawful right to fair trial. My crime, to argue that US treaties should all be voided for not honouring treaty and returning my children by fair trial. Did the US State offer the peeps names, of course not, state immunity. My father in law works for a major defence contractor and has nice friends at the NSA, and was due in the Pentagon on 9/11. Says it all. States should be above personal family issues. I am a dated IT geek (who once had a secret line into MI5, maybe still there Gary, but now under US ownership lol), and if they can hack and trash (damn Bill Gates) my pc across the world behind a firewall / filtering, they can have create whatever evidence they like.
Posted by neil humphrey, 31 Jul 2008
no to extradition
It is beyond belief that the House of Lords does not uphold the rights of a British citizen and is willing to hand over anyone the American authorities ask for without any qualms. Just one more case of us Brits playing the tail that is wagged by the dog. Disgusting. Good luck in your fight.
Posted by highland girl, 31 Jul 2008
McKinnon vows to fight on
If the Yank govermernt had any sense at all they would not think to jail him but should offer him a well paid job his knowledge would be invalueable in stopping more hackers getting in to the the yank's systems
Posted by Glenn Sivers, 31 Jul 2008
Hacking for dummies
The US has been embarrassed by an amateur hacker. Critical security systems were breached very easily. I can understand the annoyance and pride being hurt but the US should just count itself lucky that it was not hardcore terrorists that had hacked in. I don't think that the US should be using Gary as a scapegoat to cover their own inadequacies and slack attitude to security. If I left the door open to my house it is reasonable to expect that somebody would take a look around. Take it as a warning and do something about it. The probable reality is that they will extradite Gary take him to an classified location (Guantanamo Bay) and interview (torture) him for a while until he confesses to everything they want him to. God bless America.
Posted by A Lincoln, 01 Aug 2008
how dare you
and that previous comment coming from a man whose country elected the worlds biggest imbecile as president. I don't think i need to say anymore
Posted by reg, 31 Jul 2008
Dented pride
Gary is the victim of dented pride for showing how insecure the US computer systems are. If he can hack into them what price any other hostile government can also. The US should be pleased that flaws in their systems have been shown up and employ hackers to break into other systems to show their security which can then be improved.
Posted by leigh, 01 Aug 2008
TaKE THE U.SA. OFFER OF 4 YEARS.
If they have offered him a deal, with a sentence of no more than 4 years and will guarantee he serves it in a u.k prison, then he should accept. ACCEPT GUY........ACCEPT......quick before they withdraw there offer.
He stands guilty, whatever the reason. We can't have people just pleasing themselves and snooping on top security issues, whatever the moral high ground.
If he is extradited to the u.s. he will face a life behind bars, with no hope of parole.They dont mess around with wrong doers there.
Posted by JANICE, 01 Aug 2008