US diplomat secretly flown home ‘had child abuse images at flat’(www.thetimes.com)

46 pointsby Betelbuddy4 hours ago3 comments

specproc3 hours ago
US military personnel get off with a slap on the wrist for rape in the UK.
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/jul/29/why-us-milit...
A US diplomat's wife got flown home after killing a motorcyclist.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-49984737
And our lads die in their wars.
The "special relationship" is an abusive relationship.
- gamblor956an hour ago
  1) The military defines rape differently
  2) She was convicted by the way....
  3) and our boys died in yours.
  - orwinan hour ago
    I mean, putting your penis in someone who didn't agree is rape. The fact that you use threats instead of using violence doesn't really change what it is.
jjgreen4 hours ago
Also on BBC: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4gjw1j1eq7o
- lysace3 hours ago
  I suspect that I can't really understand this:
  "A US embassy staffer accused of possessing indecent images of children, was detained at his south London flat and flown out of the UK in August, without being first questioned by British police."
  Sure, I get the overall mechanics. "was... flown" - any brits here to help? What exactly does this mean in BBC English? It implies something, doesn't it?
  - muglug3 hours ago
    I assume he was taken to a US airbase and flown from there.
    Americans can recall diplomats back to their home country at any time. He was recalled somewhat more hastily than most.
    I imagine they said something to the effect of “you will be deported and stand trial in the US; the only question is whether you’re prosecuted in the UK as well”. I imagine that, plus promises to keep his name out of the media, were convincing.
    lysace3 hours ago
    The BBC article goes on with "He was flown back to the United States on a commercial flight, but their investigations are ongoing in conjunction with UK authorities." though.
  - jrflowers3 hours ago
    He didn’t have wings or a pilot’s license so he had to have somebody else fly him in the plane to where he wouldn’t be in trouble for his CSAM
EA-31673 hours ago
Diplomatic Immunity isn’t just found in movies, and while it can lead to some unsatisfying outcomes it’s necessary.
- traceroute663 hours ago
  > it’s necessary.
  Yes, but the point in this case is that we are told the person did not have diplomatic immunity.
  Not everybody who works at an embassy has diplomatic immunity.
  The Geneva Convention dictates who gets diplomatic immunity, and that is based around your job description and rank.
  This is not the first time either that the US has flown somebody out of the UK in questionable circumstances before they were questioned by UK police.
  The UK is not a third-world country, there is no reason why somebody should not be questioned by UK police or dealt with in UK courts.
  You can also bet your bottom dollar that if the tables were turned and the equivalent happend on US soil, there would be little chance of being flown out covertley. Most sensible people don't like "One rule for US, another rule for everyone else", even more so under the present US administration.
  - r_lee3 minutes ago
    > The Geneva Convention dictates who gets diplomatic immunity, and that is based around your job description and rank.
    from what I know, this is not correct.
    if the US said he's a diplomat or has diplomatic immunity and/or was given that by the US and notified the UK, then he has immunity and it is up to the US and UK to resolve their grievances through diplomatic channels.
    for example, many family members of diplomats and government officials have such status in host countries
  - freitasm2 hours ago
    From the BBC article "It is understood the individual worked at the US embassy in Vauxhall, south west London, and though not a diplomat, he enjoyed the umbrella of diplomatic protection."
    junto2 hours ago
    In other words a spook.
    And you certainly don’t want an agency asset floating around in the legal/prison system of another country, friend or foe.
    wildzzz37 minutes ago
    Not necessarily, administrative, service, and consular staff are not diplomats but still receive varying levels of diplomatic immunity, typically just as it relates to their job. A CIA officer would be under the cover of a diplomat, no one would ever say that they actually aren't a diplomat.
    https://1997-2001.state.gov/www/about_state/diplomatic_immun...
- ygjb3 hours ago
  Sure. It would be nice if countries would waive diplomatic immunity for things that are crimes back home. Diplomatic immunity should extend to foreign laws, but the diplomats shouldn't escape domestic criminal or civil consequences.