Theresa May Delays McKinnon Extradition

The new government looks like giving NASA hacker Gary McKinnon another chance to avoid extradition to the United States for hacking into US space and military computers in 2001.

New Home Secretary Theresa May has applied to have a judicial review delayed, which was due to happen next week. The review was granted in January and was due to investigate whether Labour Home Secretary was right to decide in November to allow McKinnon’s extradition despite evidence that he suffered from Asperger’s Syndrome.

Conservative and Lib Dems hae supported McKinnon

Both Labour and LiberalDemocrat politicians criticised the extradition treaty with the US, saying it is one-sided. They have also criticised the decision by Johnson – and previous Labour Home Secretaries – to allow the US to extradite McKinnon.

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg and conservative MPs joined protests outside the Home Secretary’s office in December, when McKinnon asked for the judicial review.

Now Theresa May (left) is taking time to “consider the issues in the case”, according to a statement from McKinnon’s lawye, who said: “I hope this may be a signal of a more compassionate and caring Home Secretary.”

Amateur hacker and UFO enthusiast McKinnon hacked into poorly-protected US computers in 2001, looking for evidence of alien visits. US authorities tracked him down and and he was arrested in 2002, when the authorities claim his hacking caused then to shut down critical systems and networks in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, and caused damages of approximately £435,000, a figure which McKinnon’s supporters hotly dispute.

If extradited and found guilty, it is possible McKinnon could be sentenced to up to 60 years in a US jail. His supporters say he is at risk of suicide if ths goes ahead.

The new government has said it will re-examine the extradition treaty between the US and the UK.