Hacker News Reader

HNHacker News

Top New Best Ask Show Jobs

Comment by larrys | Hacker News Reader

Parent Full thread

larrys·

"story a lot more boring"

"you are being ghoulish"

Agree.

It's an artifact of the way the media has everyone trained.

"If convicted he could spend up to 400 years in prison!" (counts*years per count, full load)

The math is also the way the prosecutors get people to plea.

View on HN

Yeah, also a good point. For what it's worth: I don't support what Aaron did. I do hope he wins his case. And, like you said, it seems clear that the specific array of charges he's facing constitute a deliberate shock-and-awe campaign on the part of the AUSA prosecuting the case.

You maybe figure, the AUSA's position is, whatever happens in this case, Swartz is at least walking away with a felony conviction.

From serving on a federal grand jury I got the distinct (though unstated) impression that the indictment was used as leverage in plea negotiations. It is fine and good to display "I will fight this to the bitter end" bravado on the internet, but when faced with an uncertain trial outcome (all are, even if you are 100% innocent) where the cost of losing is say 20+ years in the federal system (which has no parole, so if you get 20 years you serve 20 years), people tend to welcome deals/pleas. In one view everyone wins, the govt. has a victory and the defendant avoids the worst outcome. On the other hand it is depressing to see the justice system used in this manner (i.e. bullying/threats used to get defendants to agree to a plea deal so the govt. doesn't have to bother with a real trial).

Out of curiosity, if you believe what he did violates the rule of law (I hope I have correctly summarized your view from other posts), why do you hope he escapes the legal consequences of his actions?

I certainly don't want Aaron to face unduly severe consequences for his actions, but I'm not sure how you are reconciling those two views.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com