Comments on: DoJ drops charges against Aaron Swartz

By: Kay Sieverding

Kay Sieverding — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 20:31:00 +0000

In my experience, DOJ wants to hurt innocent people. I don’t have a criminal record and wasn’t charged with a federal crime but DOJ imprisoned me for 5 months without a written charge, an evidentiary hearing or a bail hearing. DOJ assistant US attorney David C. Rybicki filed in federal court that I engaged in abusive litigation but that was not admissible evidence per rule 608. DOJ can’t find evidence that is admissible that I am dishonest. DOJ assistant U.S. attorney Tricia D. Francis emailed me that DOJ is opposed to an evidentiary hearing to determine if what Rybicki filed in court is true or not.

By: oasisob1

oasisob1 — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 16:09:00 +0000

Indeed. Best opinion on the subject, anywhere.

By: Luther Blissett

Luther Blissett — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 10:05:00 +0000

I can only ‘thumbsup’ once (don’t like to ‘like’), but I can thank you here and now for your comments. You very eloquently put what I thought. Thank you.

By: GyroMagician

GyroMagician — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 09:38:00 +0000

‘The buck stops at the ‘ is a classic way to avoid punishing anyone. Realistically, is there any chance the president will lose his job over this? No. So pushing the idea that he is responsible is a safe way to say that no-one has to to take responsibility. What we should be asking is who was directly responsible? Who made the decision to continue the case, after JSTOR decided not to pursue it? Why did they think this was appropriate? Was their decision affected by any group outside of government (lobby groups, etc)? All this should be made public.

By: BillStewart2012

BillStewart2012 — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 06:23:00 +0000

There’s nobody asking for damages. And they can’t punish him now that he’s dead. So their job is done now, and they’re wrapping it up and moving on to their next target.

By: Paul Shuster

Paul Shuster — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 03:31:00 +0000

I’m sure her ruthlessness has pleased all the right sorts of people in the elite.

By: Paul Shuster

Paul Shuster — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 03:29:00 +0000

Hah-hah… beautiful. I signed the petition too, but I don’t expect it to have much impact on Ortiz’s career trajectory.

By: beepbeep

beepbeep — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 02:08:00 +0000

Thanks for that link!

By: spacedmonkey

spacedmonkey — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 01:40:00 +0000

I don’t think there’s any chance that they’ll actually do anything about her, but this will make them take a public stand on the issue.

By: feetleet

feetleet — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 01:29:00 +0000

Signed. But I think you want a ‘never’ there or something. And I’m more than a little uncomfortable with the word ‘administration.’ The doj – AT LARGE – just started to see reason and/or correct for a localized lack thereof. That’s the newsworthiness of this post.

‘Administration’ has become a very politicized word. Let’s please keep this about Aaron.

By: spacedmonkey

spacedmonkey — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 01:18:00 +0000

https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/remove-united-states-district-attorney-carmen-ortiz-office-overreach-case-aaron-swartz/RQNrG1Ck?utm_source=wh.gov&utm_medium=shorturl&utm_campaign=shorturl

Only 5000 more signatures to make the administration publicly rub our faces in their craven authoritarianism again.

By: feetleet

feetleet — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 01:03:00 +0000

Let’s not be glib, or worse, ungrateful. This was a result. Aaron’s prosecutors certainly have a great deal more atoning to do in their times, but I suspect this DOJ decision was made – or compelled – by someone up the ladder. Aaron clearly had the right friends in the right places: and that means YOU, Internet-that-matters.The Internet didn’t sit on its hands about this, and this DOJ choice was a non-insignificant result (re: estate penalties) – hopefully one of many.

Cory, you honor Aaron’s memory by being active and cerebral in your grief, by making this an occasion for conversation and introspection. I only hope I can stay one-millionth as focused on the good work to be done in this world the next time someone close to me becomes someone far.

Where Lessig – as a griever is entitled – came calling for heads, you simply provided yours. I am in awe at your poise, your restraint and yet, somehow, the clarion EFFECTIVENESS of your prose and sentiment in the face of death. You make me want justice, not vengeance. I have no doubt that Aaron’s peers, family and friends, and the love they have demonstrated through words and action have effectuated this first result, mere days after Aaron’s death. Thank you, Cory – and BoingBoing – for being a part of that.

All the best to you and yours from an anonymous coward.

By: deeznutz

deeznutz — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 01:00:00 +0000

Forking Bastages.

By: crummett

crummett — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 00:51:00 +0000

No good deed goes unpunished.

By: thepolishpen

thepolishpen — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 00:25:00 +0000

Are you kidding? This will never happen. They will investigate themselves and then find that they worked within the scope of their duty–their “duty to the American people.”

By: thepolishpen

thepolishpen — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 00:22:00 +0000

Instead of a petition, this should be called a request for another passive aggressive brush off.

By: thepolishpen

thepolishpen — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 00:18:00 +0000

Yeah, like Eric “Waco-Fast & Furious” Holder will ever be held accountable for anything.

By: thepolishpen

thepolishpen — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 00:17:00 +0000

This is the paradox of out of control government. It’s supposed to benefit the People, but is in no way incentivized to do so. Instead, low level employees are locked into the long goodbye with life insurance guarantees and other long-term benefits, and high-level bureaucrats are rewarding friends and punishing enemies.

Here’s a comparison of where the People are in this equation:
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=671631n

By: thepolishpen

thepolishpen — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 00:10:00 +0000

Your questioning is valid, but the real question is, “Who will lose their job?” And, of course, we already know the answer. No one.

By: thepolishpen

thepolishpen — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 00:08:00 +0000

If only just the criminal justice system were out of whack.

By: Florian Bösch

Florian Bösch — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 23:54:00 +0000

How to snatch being petty bullying assholes from the jaws of decency.

By: Antinous / Moderator

Antinous / Moderator — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 23:48:00 +0000

The standard is almost unmeetable.

By: Mai Wang

Mai Wang — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 23:46:00 +0000

Trust me. ;)

By: Greg Webster

Greg Webster — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 23:45:00 +0000

IANAL, so I wonder what are the requirements for finding this was legally “malicious presecution”. Can someone enlighten me?

By: That_Anonymous_Coward

That_Anonymous_Coward — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 23:25:00 +0000

They learned to stop by watching the RIAA sue a terminal man with cancer, then “allowing” the family a certain number of days to grieve before expecting them to come back to court.
They also lied and said the man who with his dying breath was cursing them had decided to settle… but then corporations get to lie in court.

By: SpiderJon

SpiderJon — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 22:37:00 +0000

Too little, far too late.

By: Avram Grumer

Avram Grumer — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 22:35:00 +0000

I dreamed I saw Ken Lay last night,
Alive as you and me.
Says I “But Ken, you’re six years dead”
“I never died” said he,
“I never died” said he.

“In Colorado, Ken,” says I,
Him standing by my bed,
“A coronary took you out.”
Says Ken, “But I ain’t dead,”
Says Ken, “But I ain’t dead.”

And standing there as big as life,
His face so cool and calm,
Says Ken “What they can never kill
Went on to grease some palms,
Went on to grease some palms.”

From Goldman Sachs to A.I.G.,
With every trick and way
The rich use to defraud us all,
It’s there you’ll find Ken Lay,
It’s there you’ll find Ken Lay.

By: glittalogik

glittalogik — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 22:25:00 +0000

Ugh, it’s too early in the morning (In Australia, at least) for conspiracy theories.

By: corydodt

corydodt — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 22:19:00 +0000

Um, not sure where you’re getting your information, but Ken Lay is super dead.

By: mindysan33

mindysan33 — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 22:06:00 +0000

It should probably include a lot more people, too I’d imagine, but if you can get one person taken down, the public face of the prosecution, that’s probably a victory in some way. however, I do wonder that if Ortiz loses the job, if that’s just more cosmetic than anything else.