The First Space Criminal

The Evans International Law Firm continues to be fascinated with what is happening in international and intergalactic law and how the human laws apply there as well! In this segment we will tell you the story of the first space crime! 

In August 2019, the NASA astronaut Anne McClain has been accused of committing a crime in outer space. McClain allegedly has tried to access the bank accounts of her former spouse without her authorization. The following accusations comprised of identity theft and of improper non authorized access to financial records when trying to log into her bank account. 

Anne McClain was a on a six-month mission aboard the International Space Station. But the couple’s family issues on Earth followed her into outer space. Ms. McClain admits that she had accessed the bank account from space, insisting that she was doing it for the sole purpose of ensuring there were sufficient funds available for their son. Nevertheless, her former spouse, Ms. Worden filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission and her family lodged one with NASA’s Office of Inspector General, insisting that Ms. McClain had committed identity theft and improper access to Ms. Worden’s private financial records.

The five space agencies involved in the space station — from the United States, Russia, Japan, Europe and Canada — have long-established procedures in place to handle any jurisdictional questions that might arise when astronauts of various nations are orbiting Earth together. An investigation subsequently cleared the astronaut Anne McClain of wrongdoing. Her former spouse, Summer Worden, was charged with lying to federal investigators.