Friday, January 18, 2013

Swartz Suicide Should Prompt Investigation of his Prosecutors

Aaron Swartz was clearly a brilliant, but troubled man.  As a computer coding prodigy, his contributions to the internet as we know it are unquestioned.  Unfortunately, like many men of extreme talent, he had faults to match.  Yes, he had grandiosity, and perhaps a bit of hubris because he knew he was smart. However, that in and of itself did not cause his death.

Swartz, for all of his scientific brilliance, was up against the federal criminal justice juggernaut that he was unable to deal with scientifically, and one that essentially answers the no one. Although prosecutors are essential to the judicial process, this case highlights in sickening detail how prosecutorial overreaching and the threat of prison helped drive a brilliant, sensitive man over the edge.

Most things that I have read deal with how much his death will highlight the issue of promoting the free interchange of ideas on the internet, but pardon me if I don't focus on that.  How does a prosecutor justify threatening someone with over a decade of jail time, when there is not even a complaining witness? The man did what he did without any thought of personal or financial gain, and harmed no one. The case justified probation, and community service, but the feds don't play that way.  They want you in jail, with a registration number, DNA on file,  a lifetime ban on firearms, and a felony record, or I guess it doesn't count on their score sheet..

Sleep well, Mr. or Ms. Prosecutor. Oh, and by the way, thanks for dismissing the charges against Seartz now that he's dead.