Franken Inquiry to Holder Over Death of Reddit Co-Founder Aaron Swartz

by Al Franken

Franken Inquiry to Holder Over Death of Reddit Co-Founder Aaron Swartz

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U.S. Senator Al Franken

OF MINNESOTA
Franken Inquiry to Holder Over Death of Reddit Co-Founder Aaron Swartz

March 13, 2013

March 13, 2013

The Honorable Eric Holder
Attorney General
United States Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20530

Dear Attorney General Holder:

I am writing to associate myself with my colleague Senator John Cornyn's letter to you regarding the Department of Justice's prosecution of the late Aaron Swartz.

Mr. Swartz's passing was untimely and tragic. There may be disagreement on the exact merits of the case against him, but charging a young man like Mr. Swartz with federal offenses punishable by over 35 years of federal imprisonment seems remarkably aggressive - particularly when it appears that one of the principal aggrieved parties, the academic subscription service JSTOR, did not support a criminal prosecution.

I respectfully ask that I be copied on your response to Senator Cornyn's letter.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Al Franken

United States Senator

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