A senior US Air Force officer and assistant military attache at the American embassy in London, Lt Col Michael Morris, shared child sex abuse images with his brother, as revealed in a US military hearing.
Prosecutors at a stateside military hearing detailed that Lt Col Michael Morris, who was based at the US embassy, exchanged explicit messages with his brother about sexual preferences for school-age boys and shared images of children as young as two wearing nappies. Morris is alleged to have encrypted electronic devices at his UK home after learning his brother was remanded in custody in the US for child sex abuse material charges. He was subsequently flown back to the United States "under escort" in August, before British police had the opportunity to question him. This incident has reignited concerns in Westminster regarding US authorities potentially disregarding the legal jurisdiction of the host country, despite the alleged offenses occurring on UK soil, raising questions about diplomatic immunity and international legal cooperation. Morris faces charges including possession, distribution, conspiracy to produce child pornography, obstructing justice, and "conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman."