I think the clear differential here is that compromising the server and tracking its users while it was in operation by Freedom Hosting would perhaps be "OK" bu

I think the clear differential here is that compromising the server and tracking its users while it was in operation by Freedom Hosting would perhaps be "OK" but confiscating the server, moving it to HQ, and then operating the site themselves is decidedly not. Keep in mind, you can't just pause the site and expect your targets not to notice, they had to actively maintain the site (and consider what that means) to keep their targets coming back. It's disgusting and disturbing. And if it's what we know about it, it's also just the tip of the iceberg. At least with Fast & Furious I think it was real criminals running the guns and just a failure to intervene. I think a failure to intervene here would be seen as unacceptable as well. But here we have way more than failure to intervene, they effectively provided the guns and helped run them across the border.