Hacker News Reader

Comment by joelrunyon | Hacker News Reader

> I wish that I could legally share with you the events that led to my decision. I cannot. I feel you deserve to know what’s going on--the first amendment is supposed to guarantee me the freedom to speak out in situations like this.

Anyone know what happens if he just says "F it" and writes a massive blog post on what exactly happened or what exactly they said to him?

View on HN

Probably arrested, held in jail optionally in solitary and eventually charged with large crimes of violating a national security letter. I'm not sure but considering other recent events probably leaking top secret government info. Followed by jail time and possibly financial ruin. Don't fuck with the US gov. They are publically making it very clear.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qwest#Refusal_of_NSA_surveilla...

This guy didn't break the law, just "offended" the gov and his life "is over" in that he has a 7 year jail sentence and financial ruin to look forward to when he gets out.

Bradly Manning offended the gov and broke the law, and is facing over a lifetime in jail after some torture like jail conditions pretrial (and nearly faced execution).

Blogging a NSL would probably get you somewhere in between.

He'd probably go to jail immediately and then spend years working the case through the courts in the hopes of getting a Supreme Court decision striking the law down as unconstitutional.

Probably worse. They'll often go after family members (siblings, parents, extended family) and their businesses until you comply.

They'd probably put him next to a child molester who is server less time just to complete the circle of irony.

He moves (or rather has already moved) to Russia.

Sounds like Bolivia or Venezuela would probably be a better first stop.

"Kid, the next time I say, 'Let's go someplace like Bolivia,' let's GO someplace like Bolivia."

He goes to prison.

My understanding is that he'd disappear somehow, either silently or violently.

Arrested, probably.

Thrown in jail for contempt of court I assume.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com