Linus Torvalds, I love you! It's so refreshing to see people speak their mind like this. No bullshit. Just told plainly like it is.
His words:
https://plus.google.com/u/0/+LinusTorvalds/posts/ggzfzKyrcRQhttp://blogs.wsj.com/law/2013/01/17/us-attorney-statement-on-the-prosecution-of-aaron-swartz/The U.S. attorney for Massachusetts, Carmen Ortiz, issued a statement late Wednesday on the prosecution of Internet activist Aaron Swartz, whose suicide last week set off a wave of criticism of her office.
January 16, 2013
STATEMENT OF UNITED STATES ATTORNEY CARMEN M. ORTIZ
REGARDING THE DEATH OF AARON SWARTZ
As a parent and a sister, I can only imagine the pain felt by the family and friends of Aaron Swartz, and I want to extend my heartfelt sympathy to everyone who knew and loved this young man.
Yes, please play the 'family' card. Personally I see it the same way as I see crocodile tears. Please could politicians please leave the personal bullshit out of their speeches. They know they're in the spotlight, and there's a reason why Obama and other politicians try to paint them selves as perfect men with picture perfect families. People are stupid, many fall for stuff like this. Look, she's only a human too. Bah..
I know that there is little I can say to abate the anger felt by those who believe that this office’s prosecution of Mr. Swartz was unwarranted and somehow led to the tragic result of him taking his own life.
No shit...
I must, however, make clear that this office’s conduct was appropriate in bringing and handling this case.
Swartz was innocent, and here's the evidence:
http://io9.com/5975592/aaron-swartz-died-innocent-++-here-is-the-evidenceThe career prosecutors handling this matter took on the difficult task of enforcing a law they had taken an oath to uphold, and did so reasonably.
I suggest the career should end right here. They have provably shown bad judgement. There's no point in making an example out of a defenseless young man who has comitted no crimes.
The prosecutors recognized that there was no evidence against Mr. Swartz indicating that he committed his acts for personal financial gain, and they recognized that his conduct – while a violation of the law – did not warrant the severe punishments authorized by Congress and called for by the Sentencing Guidelines in appropriate cases.
No shit...
That is why in the discussions with his counsel about a resolution of the case this office sought an appropriate sentence that matched the alleged conduct – a sentence that we would recommend to the judge of six months in a low security setting.
Six months in a low security setting ? What have you been smoking ?
http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2011/July/SwartzAaronPR.htmlAARON SWARTZ, 24, was charged in an indictment with wire fraud, computer fraud, unlawfully obtaining information from a protected computer, and recklessly damaging a protected computer. If convicted on these charges, SWARTZ faces up to 35 years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, restitution, forfeiture and a fine of up to $1 million.
While at the same time, his defense counsel would have been free to recommend a sentence of probation. Ultimately, any sentence imposed would have been up to the judge. At no time did this office ever seek – or ever tell Mr. Swartz’s attorneys that it intended to seek – maximum penalties under the law.
See above.
As federal prosecutors, our mission includes protecting the use of computers and the Internet by enforcing the law as fairly and responsibly as possible. We strive to do our best to fulfill this mission every day.
You don't.
Linus is a fucking hero. You Carmen Ortiz is a liar.
