Man freed by Gov. Chris Christie speaks out about prison life, becoming a libertarian activist

Just weeks after his release, Aitken accepted a job directing online outreach efforts for FEE, one of the groups that supported him during his fight with the state.

A free man, Aitken travels on FEE’s behalf speaking to student groups about his story and preaching libertarianism. He was in Washington, D.C. last week at the International Students for Liberty Conference, and has speaking engagements lined up around the country — even one in New Jersey, which he says he was “reluctant” to accept, considering his treatment in the state.

Although he’s technically free, the legal battles are far from over. Since Christie did not grant a full pardon, Aitken is still legally considered an ex-con, and he plans to appeal his case to the Supreme Court if need be.

As for grudges against his accusers and the judge that sentenced him, Aitken has plenty.

“The words ‘pathetic excuse for a man’ come to mind,” Aitken says of the judge who would have let him rot away his prime years in prison. “How can you have any backbone whatsoever when you just pander to whatever your political leanings are?”

But that doesn’t give him back his lost time.

“It was such a waste,” Aitken says of the agonizing months he spent fighting the court system, pleading his innocence and sitting behind bars. “I don’t know how I get the two years back. All the money, all the time that’s been spent. I lost custody of my son over this. How does he ever get his father back? He doesn’t. You don’t get any of these things back.”

Now that Aitken is plugged into a crowd of libertarian activists, he’s working to not only appeal his own case, but help an effort to get the Supreme Court to change New Jersey’s gun laws. From his new home base in Atlanta, Aitken is using the tools developed in the private sector to get FEE’s message out, connecting them with online communities, bloggers and other activists.

On his own time, Aitken says he’s aiming for a landmark Supreme Court gun case for his native state within the next decade.

“We’re trying to change things,” he says.

As for the judge that sentenced Aitken, he’s no longer on the bench. Gov. Christie declined to renew his appointment.

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