USSC Defaced and Hacked by Anonymous: Site Down

The official website of the US Sentencing Commission, USSC, has been defaced by the group Anonymous as a retaliation for the death of internet activist Aaron Schwartz. The group believed that Schwartz committed suicide on January 11, 2013 as a direct result of the pressure the Federal Prosecutor’s office was putting on Aaron, threatening him with millions of dollars in fines, and 35 years or more in prison, for allegedly hacking a subscription-only website that distributes scientific and literary journals.

“Two weeks ago today, a line was crossed. Two weeks ago today, Aaron Swartz was killed. Killed because he faced an impossible choice. Killed because he was forced into playing a game he could not win — a twisted and distorted perversion of justice — a game where the only winning move was not to play,” said the message posted by Anonymous on USSC website.

Anonymous also posted that the they have acquired sensitive government information, all ready for immediate release.

As of this writing, the USSC website remains inaccessible.