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Alan Johnson was last night told by a powerful group of MPs that he can and must halt the extradition of Gary McKinnon.
In a devastating letter, the Home Affairs Select Committee flatly rejected Mr Johnson's claim that he is powerless to intervene.
Gary, who has Asperger's syndrome and is said to be suicidal, is due to be handed over to the U.S. under the controversial Extradition Act.
There he faces up to 60 years in jail for hacking into Pentagon and Nasa computers while searching for proof of alien life.
But the Labour chairman of the committee, Keith Vaz, said the 'precarious state' of Gary's mental health meant his removal should be stopped.
The letter also calls for a 'comprehensive review' of the entire Extradition Act - which is widely considered imbalanced against British citizens.
It is a stunning vindication for Gary's supporters, and will pile enormous pressure on Mr Johnson to change his stance.
Earlier this year, the Mail presented the Home Secretary with evidence from two leading extradition lawyers stating that he could stop the removal on health grounds.
But Mr Johnson - while refusing to publish his own legal advice - stubbornly insisted that this was not the case.
Now - after studying the legal opinion obtained by the Mail, and holding a public evidence session with Mr Johnson and Gary's mother Janis this week - the Home Affairs committee has sided with Gary, 43, and this newspaper.
The letter from Mr Vaz - a former minister - to the Home Secretary says: 'We received a clear legal opinion... that the scope for the exercise of discretion by the Home Secretary is greater than you believe.
'Because of Mr McKinnon's precarious state of mental health, the Committee is of the view that he should not be extradited to the U.S.A. and you should exercise your discretion in this case.'
Officially, Mr Johnson has 'stopped the clock' on Gary's removal to the U.S while he considers new medical evidence of the danger he may take his own life if extradited.
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