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27 Nov 2009
UK home secretary Alan Johnson has decided that Gary McKinnon should be sent to the US to face trial on hacking charges.
McKinnon could be extradited in a matter of weeks, after Johnson ruled that there was no new reason for the UK hacker not to go.
"I have carefully considered the representations in the case of Gary McKinnon. I am clear that the information is not materially different from that placed before the High Court earlier this year, and does not demonstrate that sending McKinnon to the US would breach his human rights," said Johnson in a statement.
"As the courts have affirmed, I have no general discretion. If McKinnon's human rights would be breached, I must stop the extradition. If they would not be breached, the extradition must go ahead."
The Free Gary McKinnon supporters' group said that, although this suggested a glimmer of hope for the hacker, it might just be a delaying tactic. McKinnon suffers from Asperger's disease, and is asking to be tried closer to home where his sentence could be a lot more lenient.
"[Johnson's] final words imply that the case is again sub judice, but they are just as likely to be an excuse to avoid answering any questions about his own handling of the case before the forthcoming General Election," said the group in a blog post.
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Do you agree?
I am a U.S. Citizen and what is happening is WRONG
So give him a "slap on the wrist" and maybe take away his Internet privileges for a while in the UK but I think that he will get too harsh a sentence here in "Hang 'em high" America. I don't think he did anything irreversible and if anything the IT Security Team at NASA should send a few security officials over to find out how he did it. If anything he did the U.S. Government a favor by exposing the weak security on the NASA network.
Posted by: Fred Dunn 29 Nov 2009
Puppet on a String
America barks and we jump.Alan Johnston the man who would be king ,he want's to ask the British People what they think on the extradition of Gary McKinnon.The British Governments Masters shout ,and they roll over.The crime was committed in this country,so Mr McKinnon should be tried here.Gordon Brown and his bunch of spineless parasites should stand up and be counted.Gary McKinnon did the Americans a favour,showing there systems failings.The Labour Party rating has had a boost lately,but if this extradition goes ahead they will suffer badly in the next polls.Mr. McKinnon should be tried here,and if found guilty, serve his sentence here.By the way Mr.Johnston, I pray to God you don't put your name into the hat when it's time to replace Gordon Brown.
Posted by: Grandad 28 Nov 2009
disease? get stuffed!
For the attention of the half-wit who wrote this? Its called Aspergers Syndromme, not Aspergers disease!
Posted by: Stew 27 Nov 2009
McKinnon Needs Psychiatric Care not Imprisonment
A man who is looking for evidence of alien landings in U.S. government computer files is obviously mentally disturbed. There is no value whatsoever in imprisoning non-violent offenders. If officials need to "send a message" they have the media and email. Gary McKinnon needs help, something he will never receive in a United States prison, most of which are third world at best and medieval at their worst. Keep Gary in the United Kingdom.
Posted by: Michael R. Zomber 27 Nov 2009
Don't Give Up
It's about time this and any British Government stopped curtailling to the Americans as they would not allow any of their troops to be questioned here then it is about time they said no extradition of Gary McKinnon as this has been going on for far too long and he has always admitted to what he had done and has shown up the failings of American security and told them so.
Posted by: Alan Bishop 27 Nov 2009