Keys has been arguing this line for a while though. He&#x27;s been unusually vocal in his own defense in the months leading up to the trial (compare that to how relatively quiet Aaron Swartz [0] was) -- and I think it&#x27;s a calculated tactic. Not necessarily a wrong one, but Keys&#x27; reputation as being savvy about online and social media is very well deserved.<p>But I think that it is likely to severely backfire on him. A lot about the justice system is public relations -- check out the press releases feed at the Dept of Justice [1]...and he&#x27;s doubling down in such a way that the prosecutors and judge can <i>only</i> lose face if they go lenient with him. The best defense for him is to be contrite and ask for leniency -- that&#x27;s the whole point of his defense lawyers arguing that it was just a simple webpage defacement. Instead, he&#x27;s arguing federal-level type coverup and incompetency, from the FBI investigation to the jury-by-trial itself. If the judge slaps him on the wrist, the judge is basically insinuating &quot;Yeah, you&#x27;re right...our court system is a joke!&quot;.<p>From what I can tell, not many judges choose to go that route.<p>[0] <a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;techcrunch.com&#x2F;2013&#x2F;01&#x2F;14&#x2F;aaron-swartz-asking-for-help-119-days-ago&#x2F;" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;techcrunch.com&#x2F;2013&#x2F;01&#x2F;14&#x2F;aaron-swartz-asking-for-hel...</a><p>[1] <a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.justice.gov&#x2F;doj&#x2F;news-feeds" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.justice.gov&#x2F;doj&#x2F;news-feeds</a>