UK will not extradite hacker McKinnon to U.S. because of health concerns
Gary McKinnon pictured at a press conference in London, on January 15, 2009.
October 16th, 2012
07:43 AM ET

UK will not extradite hacker McKinnon to U.S. because of health concerns

A man accused of hacking into Pentagon and NASA computers will not be extradited from the United Kingdom to the Unites States because of health concerns, Home Secretary Theresa May said on Tuesday.

Gary McKinnon has admitted to breaking into computers  - but says he did so to find out if the U.S. government was covering up the existence of UFOs.

McKinnon's lawyer, Karen Todner, has fought extradition on human rights grounds because McKinnon has Asperger syndrome.

May said McKinnon's Asperger syndrome and depressive illness meant "there is such a high risk of him ending his own life that a decision to extradite would be incompatible with his human rights."

The U.S. government says McKinnon accessed 97 computers from his home in London for a year starting in March 2001, and costing the government about $1 million.

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soundoff (45 Responses)
  1. Philip

    If a man is under the influence of heroin and commits a crime, he is arrested and jailed waiting for his case to be heard. However, if that same man were under the influence of prescription drugs, he might very well await his case to be heard while a resident at a State Hospital.
    The State of Colorado has if FACT been sued for warehousing criminals in State ran hospitals.Family of mental patients are discusted by the fact that these common criminals are in the same hospitals as their loved ones, and allowed to form se xual relationships with them.

    October 16, 2012 at 7:15 pm | Report abuse |
    • banasy©

      Mary:
      I have posted the two mental hospitals in Colorado that are state run, according to Colorado's own government web site.
      Colorado State University Hospital in Grand Junction is not one of them...so your point is?

      October 16, 2012 at 8:17 pm | Report abuse |
    • banasy©

      Yes, Mary, I was asking for clarification, as the hospital he referenced, Colorado State Hospital doesn't exist as Colorado State Hospital.
      That's why I wrote "did you mean...", asking for further illumination.

      October 16, 2012 at 8:39 pm | Report abuse |
  2. Philip

    (the few who actually visit their mentally challeneged family members who reside at State Hospitals)
    Just like old-age homes, few have visiting family. Few are concerned. I'm a few. who are concerned.
    If you commit a crime under the influence of prescription drugs, you should face the same Justice those whom self-medicate face: PRISON, not hospital.

    October 16, 2012 at 7:32 pm | Report abuse |
  3. Jon

    This is a victory for GB. The US has abused their relationship with Britain and the people of Britain know it. The US is losing allies fast.

    October 17, 2012 at 7:06 am | Report abuse |
    • Alan Page

      Agreed..especially after Britain abstained to vote against the creation of Observer Palestinian State.

      December 3, 2012 at 11:48 am | Report abuse |
  4. Alan Page

    This guy simply discovered about the US secret outter space program, off world bases, contact with UFO's, ships, the whole deal...That's why the whole fuss...

    December 3, 2012 at 11:46 am | Report abuse |
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