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From his Google+ post

"Yesterday (as reported by the Wall Street Journal and elsewhere):

"At no time did this office ever seek – or ever tell Mr. Swartz’s attorneys that it intended to seek – maximum penalties under the law."

And July 2011 (as posted by justice.gov itself):

"SWARTZ faces up to 35 years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, restitution, forfeiture and a fine of up to $1 million""

Stating that a person faces x amount of years is not the same as saying we are seeking to put you in jail for this many years.

Correct me if I am wrong, but this is how anyone who allegedly broke the law would be treated. The law you broke states you can face up to x, y, and z for breaking it, but hardly anyone gets that maximum sentencing. Hell, even murderers rarely get the maximum sentencing.



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