US diplomat’s wife will not return to UK over crash death, Trump note reveals
The US diplomat’s wife involved in a car crash that killed a British teenager will not return to the UK to face justice, according to a note accidentally shown by President Donald Trump.
Anne Sacoolas claimed diplomatic immunity and fled the country following a head-on collision near a military base that killed 19-year-old motorcyclist Harry Dunn in August.
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Downing Street has called on the US government to “reconsider its position” to grant immunity and called for Sacoolas to return to Britain to face police.
However, a card marked ‘secret’ instructed the US president to say that she would not return to the UK.
“(If raised) Note, as secretary Pompeo told foreign secretary Raab, that the spouse of the US government employee will not return to the United Kingdom,” read the note, which was snapped by a US photographer during a press conference.
Speaking after a conversation with Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Trump defended Sacoolas, saying it was difficult “driving on the opposite side of the road”.
“It was a terrible accident,” he said. “We’re going to speak to her and we’re going to see the person driving the car, the wife of the diplomat, we’re going to speak to her and see what we can come up with so that there can be some healing.”
The card also stated that Sacoolas would have to consider whether to make herself available for questioning by British authorities “based on the advice of her legal counsel”.
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Dunn’s mother Charlotte Charles, who has repeatedly called for Sacoolas to return to the UK, said after meeting with foreign secretary Dominic Raab that no progress had been made.
“Part of me is feeling like it was just a publicity stunt on the UK government side to show they are trying to help,” she said.
Main image credit: Getty