UPDATE: As of October 24, 105 MPs have signed a letter to Obama asking him to refuse the extradition of Love to the US. The cross-party contributors to the open letter include co-leader of the Green party Caroline Lucas, and former Education Secretary Tristram Hunt.
This letter comes as Home Secretary Amber Rudd decided on whether to grant Love's appeal decision after he was sentenced on September 16. Rudd has until mid-November to make the decision.
Although Love's future is uncertain, he's optimistic. "The extradition will not go through," Love told WIRED.
This came after MPs have pledged to ask Obama to drop the extradition charges against Love. David Burrowes, Conservative MP for Enfield Southgate has spoken about the risk of sending Love to the US in terms of his mental health, and will welcome him to the houses of Parliament on the evening of October 11. MP Barry Sheerman, chair of the Parliamentary Commission on Autism, has also contributed to the debate, stating “if a person on the autistic spectrum can access these files, then there’s something wrong with their encryption. It’s a public service."
Original story appears below
A British judge has ruled Lauri Love should be extradited to the US and face trial for his alleged involvement in hacking US government websites.
Judge Nina Tempia, ruling at Westminster Magistrates' Court, said Love should face charges over #OpLastResort, an online protest in response to the death of hacktivist Aaron Swartz.
"I think it's a defence mechanism but I've deferred processing," said Love, speaking outside the court shortly after the ruling. "I thank everyone for their support and I thank the judge for giving us the opportunity to win at a higher court.
"It's unfortunate for me and my family that we have to go through another year of legal stuff, but it may simply be that this case is so important that this is settled at a higher court," he added.
Sarah Harrison, director of the Courage Foundation, which runs Love's defence fund and support campaign, said the ruling was "disappointing" and suggested his legal team would appeal the decision.
"Although you don't expect to win in an extradition, the prosecution didn't bring any evidence," Karen Todner, Love's solicitor, told press gathered outside the court. Asked if she was confident that the ruling would be overturned she added: "As confident as I can be. Lauri's life is at stake."
Before the sentencing Love was dancing to Bob Marley outside the court and socialising with the crowd of 20 or so supporters and press.
Shouts of "kangaroo court" were heard outside after the the ruling was made. Love will remain on bail and be able to appeal the court's decision within 14 days. Any further decision to be made by the UK's secretary of state.
His lawyer has expressed concern for his wellbeing in a US prison, explaining "Lauri has very severe and very well documented mental health issues. In the US when you're on suicide watch they put you into solitary confinement"
"We've got to go for Secretary of State first then through the high court which will be dealt with early next year. There's still a few avenues to take"
After the hearing, Lauri tweeted "Have faith & conviction in the justness of your cause."
Love is facing up to 99 years in US prison after being accused of hacking Nasa, the FBI and US Federal Reserve, as well as stealing personal data. If found guilty he will be taken to the US to be trailed and could also face a $9 million fine (£6.2m).
Love, 31, has Asperger’s Syndrome and a history of depression and has expressed concerns about his possible extradition. "For someone with my particular brain composition, my prospects of doing well in prison in the US are not good," he told The Telegraph. "I can say quite unequivocally that I have no intention of being extradited to America." His father, Alexander Love, has expressed similar concerns: “What worries us most is that my son has stated emphatically that he will kill himself if he gets extradited to America.”
Love's first arrest came in 2013 when two officers from the National Crime Agency posing as UPS mailmen delivered a package to the front door of his parent’s. He wasn’t charged until 2015 when the police’s extradition unit arrested him on behalf of the US government.
His case is similar to that of Gary McKinnon, whose long extradition battle was blocked by Theresa May, then the Home Secretary, in 2012. The ruling will take place at 14:00 today at Westminster Magistrates Court.
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
