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It may be the only time we've seen the president of the United States questioned about a motorcycle accident. A case in the U.K. in which a 19-year-old motorcyclist was killed, possibly by a U.S. woman who fled the country and claimed diplomatic immunity, has become something of an international incident.
The crash occurred on August 27 when Harry Dunn was hit head-on by a car being driven on the wrong side of the road near a U.S. communications station in Northamptonshire. Police questioned Anne Sacoolas, a U.S. citizen whose husband works at the base. She later fled the country, though police said she told them she would not.
“Northamptonshire Police followed all of its usual procedures following the incident, including liaising closely with the suspect, who engaged fully with us at the time and had previously confirmed to us that she had no plans to leave the country in the near future," said a statement from the police.
British authorities later confirmed that Sacoolas and her husband were covered by diplomatic immunity, even though the husband is not publicly listed as a diplomat. That lead to speculation he could be an intelligence operative.
Diplomatic immunity prevents prosecution of diplomats by their host country unless their home country waives the immunity. President Trump was questioned about that possibility and was noncommittal. But a Washington Post photographer captured an image of briefing notes carried by the president that suggest the decision has already been made that Sacoolas will not return to the U.K. for questioning.
#trumpnotes @realDonaldTrump (If Raised) Note, as @SecPompeo told Foreign Secretary @DominicRaab that the spouse of the U.S. Government employee will not return to the United Kingdom. @SkyNews pic.twitter.com/7yDUdOm3Pd
— Jabin Botsford (@jabinbotsford) October 9, 2019
Harry Dunn's parents were flying to the United States this weekend to try to continue putting a spotlight on the case and prevent their son's death from being forgotten.
"Just disgusted. Let down by both governments," Charlotte Charles, Harry Dunn's mother, says, describing her feelings in this British television report that sums up the case.
