I am not a lawyer, but it really looks like Schwartz would not have been convicted on CFAA charges. However, he was also charged with wire fraud. The gov't was

I am not a lawyer, but it really looks like Schwartz would not have been convicted on CFAA charges. However, he was also charged with wire fraud. The gov't was throwing the book at him. If it wasn't one law, it would've been another, and if it didn't apply, they'd still convict (and he'd have to spend years appealing the decision). Sadly, I don't think it would have saved Aaron Schwartz.