GARY McKinnon, the autistic computer hacker from Palmers Green who faces extradition to the US over alleged cyber-terrorism, was at the centre of a political discussion between Prime Minister David Cameron and US President Barack Obama on Tuesday.
Mr Cameron, speaking at a White House press conference, said he had raised the issue of Mr McKinnon’s extradition with Mr Obama and hoped that they would find “a way through”. Mr McKinnon, who suffers from Asperger syndrome, faces up to 60 years in jail if he is forced to face US courts after he admitted hacking into 97 US military and Nasa computers between 2001 and 2002.
American prosecutors want him sent to the US so he can be tried for terrorism, but the 43-year-old from Palmers Green claims he was just looking for evidence of UFOs. His lawyers argue that the extradition should be halted on human rights grounds. Speaking alongside Mr Cameron on Tuesday, Mr Obama said: “One of the traditions we have is that the president doesn’t get involved in decisions around prosecutions or extradition matters. “I trust this will get resolved in a way that underscores the seriousness of the issue but also underscores the fact that if we work together we can find an appropriate solution.
” Mr Cameron added: “Clearly there is a discussion going on between the British and the Americans about this but I don’t want to prejudice those discussions. I have had conversations with the US ambassador, as well as raising it today with the president, and I hope a way through can be found.” Mr McKinnon’s mum Janis Sharp told the Gazette: “I think it is brilliant. The fact that David Cameron raised it with Obama is huge.
Obama says he hopes we can find a resolution that is appropriate. Well, the only resolution is for Gary to be tried here and not be dragged across to America. “Obama says he can’t get involved in individual extradition matters, well I don’t think that is true.
Everyone knows the government can do what it wants – if it has got the will. “It says a lot that Barack Obama and David Cameron have brought this up and if Obama came and made a decision to stop the extradition it would show he is a really caring and compassionate person.” In May, Home Secretary Theresa May agreed to adjourn a High Court decision, on whether to deny Mr McKinnon’s extradition, while she reviews the case.
