Computer hacker gets reprieve, U.K. won't deport him to U.S.

In 2009, computer expert Gary McKinnon arrives at London's High Court to challenge his extradition to the United States. (Photo by Andrew Winning/Reuters)

Gary McKinnon, the computer hacker who broke into U.S. computer systems shortly after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, won't be extradited from the United Kingdom after all, because a British lawmaker ruled it would be inhumane. McKinnon was diagnosed in 2008 with depression and Asperger's Syndrome.

The long, strange tale of Britain’s Gary McKinnon took another dramatic turn this week when Theresa May, the British government’s Home Secretary, said McKinnon would not be extradited to the United States.

McKinnon, a self-described “bumbling computer nerd,” is accused by the U.S. government of perpetrating “the biggest military hack of all time.” In 2001 and 2002, McKinnon broke into numerous U.S. government and NASA computer systems. The actions, according to US officials, left critical computer systems inoperable and vulnerable in the days just after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

McKinnon has never denied he broke into those systems, but he has always maintained that his intent was not malicious. Instead, he says, he was simply looking for evidence of the existence of UFOs — evidence he says the U.S. government has been hiding.

Since his initial arrest in 2005, McKinnon has been fighting extradition to the United States. At one point, he offered to admit to the the hacking charges, as long as he was tried in the United Kingdom, and served any subsequent jail time in a British jail. The United States has repeatedly declined that offer, and the extradition case continued to work its way through British courts, the House of Lords and even the European Court of Human Rights.

In 2008, McKinnon was diagnosed with depression and with Asperger’s Syndrome, a form of autism. McKinnon’s mother, Janis Sharp, has continued to urge the British government to toss out the extradition order because of her son’s medical problems. She’s argued that her son would kill himself if forced to serve time in an American jail.

Tuesday, Theresa May announced that she’s blocking extradition on human rights grounds. She also announced she would propose legislation that would change Britain’s extradition procedures, putting the final decision on such matters in the hands of the British courts, not the Home Secretary.

U.S. officials, who hoped to make an example of McKinnon, said Tuesday that they are “disappointed” with Britain’s decision. Former White House adviser David Rivkin called it “laughable,” and told the BBC that “under that logic, anybody who claims some kind of physical or mental problem can commit crimes with impunity and get away with it.”

McKinnon’s mother, Janis Sharp, said her son was left speechless by Tuesday’s announcement. She noted that for years now, Gary McKinnon has “felt like a dead person.” She said she hoped Tuesday’s announcement that Britain’s extradition procedures may be changing means “he’ll feel that at least that the last 10 years and seven months has brought about something that’s going to help everyone. So it’s not been a waste — it’s achieved something.”

“And I hope that will give him a little bit of self respect,” Sharp said.

It is now up to Britain’s public prosecutors to decide whether to pursue a case against Gary McKinnon in the UK.

----------------------------------------------------------

"PRI's "The World" is a one-hour, weekday radio news magazine offering a mix of news, features, interviews, and music from around the globe. "The World" is a co-production of the BBC World Service, PRI and WGBH Boston. More about The World.