Prosecutor in Swartz Case Accused of Professional Misconduct

Stephen Heymann said to have suppressed evidence

The legal team acting for now-deceased internet activist Aaron Swartz has filed an official complaint with the Department of Justice alleging two counts of professional misconduct by Assistant US Attorney Stephen Heymann in his handling of the case.

Heymann knowingly suppressed evidence that could have been used to dismiss the case against Swartz, the complaint claims, and broke sentencing guidelines by attempting to coerce Swartz into giving up the right to a jury trial and accepting six months in jail – under the threat of a seven-year sentence request if he refused.