So breaking into a cabinet in the basement of MIT was legal? And when he hid his face with his bike helmet, he did that even though he knew he wasn't doing anything illegal?

I think even Aaron Swartz knew he was breaking some law at the time he was doing it, but at the same time the prosecutor was going after him for 35-55 years worth of jail time was clearly excessive meant to get him to plead guilty and not go to trial...