US diplomat’s wife will not return to UK in crash death case, Donald Trump’s notes reveal
- Secret briefing spotted at media conference reveals US will not allow Anne Sacoolas to face questioning over crash that killed teenager
The wife of a US diplomat suspected of involvement in the death of a British teenage motorcyclist will not be returned to the UK for trial, according to briefing notes provided to US President Donald Trump.
Briefing notes for a press conference on Wednesday, pictured by a Washington Post photographer, tell the president to say: “(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”.
Another of Trump’s talking points said it would be up to the woman involved whether to talk to British investigators.
“(If raised) Note the spouse of the US government employee will have to consider, based on the advice of her legal counsel, whether to make herself available for questioning by British authorities,” the note said.
However, when asked about the case at the press event, Trump did not read from the notes, but improvised without giving a straight answer.
“It is a very complex issue as you know,” Trump said, in a rambling reply.
“So a young man was killed. The person that was driving the automobile, has diplomatic immunity. We’re going to speak to her very shortly and see if we can do something. It was an accident … We’re going to speak to her and see what we can come up with so there can be some healing.”