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Boris Johnson today accused the Home Secretary of giving in to America by failing to intervene to prevent the extradition of London computer
hacker Gary McKinnon.
The Mayor said the refusal to stop Mr McKinnon's removal to the US would count as one of the worst “acts of selfabasement” by a British government since the Suez Crisis.
Home Secretary Alan Johnson came under fire from the 43-year-old hacker's mother, Janis Sharp, after he said that Mr McKinnon was accused of hacking into computers “shortly after the attacks of 9/11”.
Mr McKinnon, of Wood Green, who suffers from Asperger's Syndrome, is wanted for trial on charges of hacking into US military networks.
His supporters say his only crime is being a “UFO
eccentric” who searched for evidence of extra-terrestrials. They argue he could be tried in the UK if the Government acted to halt his extradition but Mr Johnson said it would be illegal for him to intervene.
In his column for the Daily Telegraph, the Mayor described Mr McKinnon as a “classic British nutjob” who should be protected by the Government rather than being “catapulted” across the Atlantic.
He said if the allegations against Mr McKinnon were true: “The Americans shouldn't be threatening him with jail. They should be offering him consultancy.”
Speaking to Sky News yesterday, Ms Sharp said the Home Secretary was “doing America's job” when he should be “standing up for British citizens”.
She admitted her son's actions had been “very stupid” and “ludicrous”, but repeated her call for him to be tried in the UK. “Gary's never said he should get off or he shouldn't face up to what he's done,” she said.
“He should be tried here. If they (the Government) want to, they could quite easily stop this extradition.”
Ms Sharp, who fears her son would not survive being locked up in an American jail, also said she still held out hope that President Obama may
intervene.
“I think if he knew about this he would realise, Do we want the first person ever extradited for computer crime to be a guy with Asperger's, who was looking for UFOs, who was so naive he admitted to computer misuse without a lawyer?' “I believe Obama would say, No. Not
in my time. Not in my name'. This is a hold-over from the Bush era.”
She added that her son was “very bad” at the moment and “extremely distressed” over his situation.
In a statement, the Home Secretary said Friday's High Court ruling, in which Mr McKinnon failed in his bid to avoid removal to America, made clear “it would be illegal for me to stop the
extradition”.
He said: “Mr McKinnon is accused of serious crimes and the US has a lawful right to seek his extradition, as we do when we wish to prosecute
people who break our laws.
“He is accused of hacking into 97 US army, navy, Nasa and defence department computers concerned with national defence and security at a critical time immediately following the 9/11 attacks and leaving the military network vulnerable to intruders.”
Mr Johnson said his predecessor Jacqui Smith had “sought and received assurances from the US that Mr McKinnon's health and welfare needs would
be met, should he be extradited”.
Reader views (43)
If he has a case to answer then let him face trial in America. The natural course of justice must be followed. Nobody can argue with this. If, when he gets to America, they find he is a "nutjob", then he will be found guilty or not guilty by a jury. Nothing wrong with that.
- Dan, Manchester, 20/08/2009 11:26
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This is a direct quote about the messages which Gary left on the USA computer systems, which was printed some time ago in the Daily Mail. Please note that he opted to use an assumed name - 'SOLO'. Would an Asperger's sufferer do that I wonder?
"He also left messages which - in a post-9/11world - were extremely foolish and provocative. One read: 'U.S. foreign policy is akin to government-sponsored terrorism these days ... It was not a mistake that there was a huge security stand-down on September 11 last year... I am SOLO. I will continue to disrupt"
Taking the last sentence in particular, can those who believe the line that he was 'looking for evidence of UFO's' and that what he did was 'innocent' offer an explanation?
If this is not a threat, I don't know what is!
- Scots Lass, Scotland, 05/08/2009 16:10
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As an American taxpayer, I don't want to spend millions of $$$ to have McKinnon tried and imprisoned in the U.S.
At bottom, all the talks about "getting tough on computer hacking" is a huge diversion to draw attention from the ongoing scandal of slipshod and lackadaisical security systems on military and government computers in the U.S.
The really dangerous hackers are in government employment in Russia, China, North Korea and many other countries and will never stand trial in a court of law.
- Ben Carmichael, Redwood City, California, 04/08/2009 05:07
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Twice Mr "Voice of Reason" (his words, not mine) Pastry (???) asked to be corrected if he was wrong. He was wrong both times.
He implied the man was autistic and therefore incapable of knowing right from wrong - A.S. is a part of the autism spectrum, but is nothing like what people think of when they hear or read the word. It only takes a tiny bit of research to know this, so I assume the muddying of the water was deliberate. Ummm correct me if I'm wrong.
His second point was based upon the first - fails.
The man knows right from wrong. His conveniently recent diagnosis of MILD A.S. shows mild social awkwardness at worst, and an odd belief in UFOs - and everyone knows UFO believers are autistic, right? Wrong.
Someone else mentioned extradition and the death penalty - they too, with minimal research, would know the death penalty didn't apply - more muddied waters for want of reasoned argument. Keith Price must have LOVED that one. The anti-USA anthing crowd need no excuses - anything will do for them.
His protective mum says her son was “very bad” at the moment and “extremely distressed” over his situation. Well yes, he would be. He's in trouble for doing wrong. It is to be expected. Get over it.
- Rogan, Irving, 04/08/2009 03:50
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If they insist on sending Gary to the USA then they can send all of the rapists, killers, religious fanatics and drug dealers back to wherever they have come from too.
They are showing a double standard on this case, if you are British (not imported kind) then off you go and be damned. However, if you are lucky enough to be a foreigner, then you'll have the full force of British law protecting you!!!
What a poppy show this country has sunk to under this dispicable Government.
Good for Boris for trying though.
- Mrs, London UK, 03/08/2009 17:00
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Good on you Boris for those comments. I don't often say I would get out there and demonstrate for a cause but if there was one organised for Gary McKinnon I would join it. What a joke! Blair was Dubya's lapdog and nothing seems to have changed.
- Glenn, london, 03/08/2009 16:57
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He reminds me of someone - Gordon Brown.
- Austen, London, 03/08/2009 15:14
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Just a thought: I was under the impression that we didn't extradite people to countries that still have the death penalty??
- Stephen, N London, 03/08/2009 14:43
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My only concern is that if a US court finds him guilty, he does his time in the US, the UK taxpayer should not be footing the bill! That also goes for any UK citizen found guilty of a crime committed abroad, irrespective of circumstance!
- Kevin Sullivan, Roehampton, London., 03/08/2009 14:37
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This man was just silly. He left a message on the US systems saying he'd been there. If he had not left his message probably no-one had been the wiser. Hackers will still hack the systems, but will keep quiet about it. The Americans should be thanking Gary McKinnon for exposing their insecure computers and hiring hima s a consultant at a ridiculously high salary. There is an "ethical" hackers conference at present in Las Vegas where hacking software is marketed & demonstrated and corporate systems hacked to expose security flaws. In other words corpoartions pay good money to have their systems tested and improved when found wanting. And it's all prefectly legal. Double standards anyone ??
- Albert, Lincoln UK, 03/08/2009 14:29
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It’s very sad that they are willing to use this man as a pawn in their career-building."
You've been spending too much tome playing chess and reading fairy stories - St
- Keith Price, Luton, England, 03/08/2009 14:12
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OK he has done wrong, probably didn't understand the consequences. This government has let him down and he doesn't deserve up to 60 years in jail for humiliating the US defence. Boris is right.
- Rod, Epping, UK, 03/08/2009 14:09
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Boris is a likeable fellow and an eccentric of the top order. But I think he is plain wrong in the case of McKinnon.
In my view, Mckinnon is a dangerous pest and should face trial for his alleged offences. Of course he deserves his day in court, but if he is convicted I hope they throw the book at him as an example to others.
- Ted, London, 03/08/2009 14:01
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I can't remember the USA putting Werner von Braun on trial: the only difference seems to be that this chap did no actual harm, beyond exposing the incompetence that they themselves admitted to. You'd think they'd want to employ him, not imprison him
- Mdj E10, london uk, 03/08/2009 13:56
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If Mr McKinnon has been diagnosed with Aspergers as a child - as many sufferers are - this case would not exist. The sudden diagnosis at the age of 42 is off putting to say the least - and even his experts describe his condition as "MILD". So mild, he went to main stream school, held down a job and had a relationship.....and he has no problem joking around in a recording studio with has been musicians!
Meanwhile, will those who shout for a trial to be held here be funding the costs of bringing the US witnesses over to testify? Or will that be another drain on the British taxpayers?
- Scots Lass, Scotland, 03/08/2009 13:55
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"And alien lifeforms DO exist!"
And you are proof of that - Juma
- Keith Price, Luton, England"
NANOOOOOOOOOO NANOOOOOOOOOOOOO 
- Juma, london, uk, 03/08/2009 13:53
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A couple of things:
1) The damaged computers were in the US, making them the injured party and, as such, the proper jurisdiction.
2) Worries about fair trial is almost moot, given that McKinnon has openly confessed to committing the crime.
3) McKinnon has already turned down a wrist-slap plea deal. Given #2 above, I'd say he's gotten some bad advice from his ma and the ambulance chasers.
4) The current "60+ years in a Supermax" malarky being tossed about it, frankly, just that -- malarky. Odds are he'll have an experience much closer to that of the baby-shaking nanny that fled home to the UK, was extradited, sentenced to time served, flew home, went to law school and went on to be a dance instructor.
5) Anyone living in the remains of the British Empire lacks standing to lecture *anyone* on the subject of " a history of civil rights abuses."
- David, East Hartford, CT, 03/08/2009 13:50
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Alan "Postman" Johnson says it is a crime not to deport Gary to stand trial in the USA for crimes committed against US property.
Why then is it not a crime to deport Abu Qatada who is wanted in Jordan for terrorism offences?
- Adam, Harrow, UK, 03/08/2009 13:45
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He wanted to play with fire so let him burn. You can’t change the rules to suite, break the law and you have to pay. Stop, using the uk as a soft touch or trying the disable trick.
- Lee, middlesex, 03/08/2009 13:40
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What winds me up most of all about this is the fact that the Government were very quick to provide support to a Nigerian woman arrested and convicted of smuggling heroin into Laos. Yet can't be bothered to support it's OWN citizens in the UK. Nice to see where the Government's priorities lie.
- Alan, East London, 03/08/2009 13:23
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Hang about! Why do I keep thinking about useful German scientists at the end of World War 2?
This man was plainly wrong. But so were Hitler and Stalin.While paving the way in rocket sc ience for good measure.
The dark side of the moon gives us the bright side; just as the setting sun rises on someone else's horizon.
- Peter Seekings-Foster, Mildenhall, Suffolk., 03/08/2009 13:10
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He's NOT a hacker, he didn't break into anything, all the servers in question were not secure, he simply walked in the front door, the problem is that he was the only one stupid enough to tell NASA he'd been there.
- Bob, Cheam, 03/08/2009 13:05
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It’s pretty clear that Brown and his gang are thinking long-term here; keep the Americans on-side and maybe get some jobs at the UN or do some public-speaking / book tours around the States after the next general election.
It’s very sad that they are willing to use this man as a pawn in their career-building.
Good on Boris for being one of the few people to see this for what it is and speak up.
- St, London, 03/08/2009 13:02
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Would Ahmed the Muslim computer hacker, born and bred in Southall, be a "classic British nutjob" too? Or would we be getting him onto a plane to the USA pronto?
What about Fred West? Another "classic British nutjob".
- Anthony, Esher, Surrey, 03/08/2009 12:58
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And alien lifeforms DO exist!"
And you are proof of that - Juma
- Keith Price, Luton, England, 03/08/2009 12:33
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This is a case of a technophile who never thought he would get caught... Don't worry, he'll get a very nice orange jumpsuit and will have plenty time to research UFO's...!
Play w/fire, expect to get burned...
- Andre, london, 03/08/2009 12:22
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Send him to the US to be tried. So what if he has Apergers? Disabled people have been banging on for years to be treated equally and now here is this guy and his family playing the "disabilty" card, "please treat him differently to any other nerd who hacks into computers." Make your mind up guys. You can't just have the positive aspects of equality, it's all or nothing.
- Louis, London, 03/08/2009 12:16
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Am I the only one who thinks that they want him so badly over there because he must've stumbled over something REALLY REALLY INTERESTING??????
I mean, face it. The Americans are sitting on a lot of information they don't want to share......
And alien lifeforms DO exist!
- Juma, london, uk, 03/08/2009 12:10
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Boris Johnson is just a clown who loves nothing better than breaking the law when he cycles round the capital. Sadly' to claw back the public esteem he has lost by these and other actions, he decudes to invent stiries about the government. Has he no shame?He needs to apologise to Mr Johnson, and soon
- Keith Price, Luton, England, 03/08/2009 11:57
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To Kevin T, Beckenham, Kent: Hear hear!
- Richard, Madrid, Spain, 03/08/2009 11:52
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I think everyone is missing the point here.
MR MC KINNON IS SUFFERING FROM ASPERGERS SYNDROME,WHICH I DO BELIEVE IS A FORM OF AUTISM (PLEASE CORRECT ME IF I AM WRONG).
The government should be protecting Mr Mc Kinnon and not handing him over to the U.S , who have a nasty habit of imprisoning/executing the mentally ill.
There was never any threat by Mr Mc Kinnon to U.S security (unless they really are in possession of alien technology ?????).
It Is Obvious to anyone with an ounce of common sense that Mr Mc Kinnon ia a harmless U.F.O enthusiast who managed to access NASA files.
HE SHOULD BE GIVEN A JOB BY THE US AUTHORITIES FOR SHOWING THEM THE HOLES IN THEIR SECURITY SYSTEM.
HE SHOULD BE PROTECTED FROM U.S PERSECUTION BY OR RATHER INADEQUATE GOVERNMENT.
I ALSO BELIEVE MR MC KINNON IS PROTECTED UNDER E.U HUMAN RIGHTS LEGISLATION WHICH SUPERCEDES UK LAW (CORRECT ME IF I AM WRONG).
IF MR MC KINNON DOES HAVE ASPERGERS SYNDROME , DOES THAT MAKE HIM UNFIT TO STAND TRIAL ANYWAY.
The point is that the U.S authorites want to make yet another example of a foreign citizen to make it look as if they are effective THEY ARE NOT .
P.S WHERE IS OSAMA BIN LADEN ANYWAY , IS HE STILL ON THE MOON , LAYING GOLF WITH JIM MORRISON AND ELVIS
pray tell.
MR (VOICE OF REASON ) PASTRY
- Aceofwands666@Hotmail.Com, london england, 03/08/2009 11:35
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Harridan Harpy and Postman Pat have both claimed that it would be unlawful for them to stop McKinnon's extradition.
Senior members if the judiciary have made it clear that the government can order that he be tried here, which would automatically halt extradition procedures.
The inescapable conclusion is that Johnson and Harperson are not only cowards, but liars to boot.
- Keith Lonsdale, Doncaster, 03/08/2009 11:12
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I want to extradite American ebay scammers so they can be tried in the UK, how do I make my request and publicise ?
- Jack, London, 03/08/2009 10:53
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So we can't send foreign killers, rapists and terrorists back to their home countries because of their human rights, but we have to send our own citizens abroad on demand to face ludicrously disproportionate sentences (Gary McKinnon) or banana republic justice (google Andrew Symeou).
- Kevin T, Beckenham, Kent, 03/08/2009 10:42
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Labour introduced this extradition treaty saying it was required in order to deal with terrorists. So far it's been used against bank managers and foolish kids (we still can't extradite terrorists because of another law Labour introduced). Meanwhile the US refuses to ratify their end of the treaty because Congress doesn't think it protects US citizens properly. For Alan Johnson to bleat that although he'd love to help, "but the law won't let me," is gutless and dishonest. All he has to do is repeal this unfair treaty.
- Ian, London, 03/08/2009 10:29
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For many people with Asperger's Syndrome - depending on how severe - they are considered disabled. I don't know on what part of the autistic spectrum this man is - but from what I've read he is not fully aware of the consequences of his actions. Would another individual considered disabled be so glibly deported and criminalised. I doubt it! There are murderers out there, who thanks to a good lawyer, get away with their crimes. This man should be treated with compassion!
- Melanie, milton keynes, bucks, 03/08/2009 10:23
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This man Mr Mckinnon has no hope of a fair trial either in the UK or America especially after Mr Alan Johnson's pronouncements this weekend,not only is he refusing to defend a British citizen but he actually is trying to incriminate him by talking about 9/11 and all the people that died and then mentioning Gary's name.Mr Mckinnon hacked into NASA sites,NASA is concerned only with space exploration not the military. This government is a threat to the security of every indigenous white British person in this country,while at the same time bending over backwards to make sure the likes of Abu Hamza and his ilk, who are a real threat to security and have committed treason on numerous occasions,and have and do call on young Muslims to take up arms against the British at home and abroad are protected from deportation to countries that may abuse there human rights.The contrast and hypocrisy is blatant,so blatant that it seriously makes me wonder if this government are Al queda sympathizers.
- Kev, London-UK, 03/08/2009 10:20
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The damage was to the U.S. Let the U.S. try him and let him serve any sentence in the U.S. Too many criminals seek the protection of the U.K. and its soft, soft, soft criminal justice system after breaching foreign laws.
- Phil Jones, London UK, 03/08/2009 10:12
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As usual with Labour they will anything except the right thing, all the rubbish about assurances given to jack boots jaqui, who by her admission was incapable, look at the three bankers simply abandoned by the UK Govenment because America demanded it and of course, due to Blairs subservience for which he was richly rewarded , they fall over themselves to comply. A Government for the people by the people !! we are British and proud of it and will never be slaves to America, we need this bunch of idiots pretending to be a Government out and out now.
- Alan Davey, London UK, 03/08/2009 10:05
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Well said Boris!
Clearly McKinnon has been very stupid, but instead of using a steam hammer to crak a nut, the US should be putting their efforts into strengthening the security of their systems.
Once again our own government has failed to recognise the simple priciples of common sense, fairness, decency and justice that we in this country should be able to take for granted. The 10p tax rate and the shameful Ghurka debacle were previous examples.
Indeed, this iniquitous extradition treaty would now be under review had a number of back-bench MPs recently voted for their priciples rather than cravenly submitting to their party whips.
This country deserves better than the mealy mouthed platitudes that seem to be the default oratory of the present administration.
- John C, Leatherhead, UK, 03/08/2009 09:56
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I agree with Boris, he is a British Citizen and should be supported against vindictive foreign governments. Before all the 'he's a hacker and deserves it' mob get on board, think what you (and the government) would have said if Russia or China had made the same request.
- Jim, London, 03/08/2009 09:46
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I'm unclear where the crime was committed. I have heard it said that he should be tried in America as that is where the impact of his crime was felt, but I don't believe that is a principle of law. Take Lockerbie, we sought extradition but it was not granted. The accused stood trial in the Netherlands, which is presumably where the flight originated.
If he hacked from the UK, he should stand trial here. If he was in America when he hacked, he should be sent back (I don't subscribe to the emotional blackmail stuff).
- Diplomat, Battersea, 03/08/2009 08:30
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Computer hackers cost everyday users millions when they hack into our computers.These individuals are scum,they deserve to rot in jail.Boris either did not think this through,or he listened to his think tank.
- David, london, 03/08/2009 07:59
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