US Air Force officer in London embassy abuse images case faces military hearing
Lieutenant Colonel Michael Morris, a US Air Force officer at the London embassy, was flown out before British police spoke to him and faces a US military hearing next month on abuse image charges.
How it was covered
- BBC One was the only channel found covering it.
- Channel 5, BBC News, BBC Two, Channel 4, GB News, ITV and Sky News: not found in tracked broadcasts.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story. Facts only one channel reported are attributed to it.
A US Air Force officer at the US Embassy in London who was flown out of the UK in August has been accused of possessing and distributing child sex abuse images. Lieutenant Colonel Michael Morris worked as an assistant military attaché at the embassy. He was removed from the UK before British police had spoken to him.
It is understood Morris was flown back to America after an investigation into his US-based brother. That investigation alleges the brother shared child abuse images with the airmen. Last month, it was said that Morris had been reassigned to the US while inquiries continue.
The US Air Force says Lieutenant Colonel Morris is currently assigned to the Air Force District of Washington. He will appear at a military hearing next month faced with charges including possessing and distributing child abuse images. He will only answer a plea if it is decided at the end of that hearing that the case will go to a full military criminal trial.
Questions remain over whether Morris might have a case to answer in the UK. The Metropolitan Police says it has been liaising with the US authorities. The force said it was made aware that Morris would be removed on 25 August, which is understood to be the same day he was flown out of the country.
While Lieutenant Colonel Morris is not a diplomat, he enjoys the privileges of the diplomatic community. The Met and the Foreign Office say they will not comment further while there is an ongoing investigation in the US. The Government is understood to be in close contact with the US Embassy, including at ministerial level.
Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, grouped by how many channels reported each one. Select a dot to see the source excerpt.
| Claim |  |
|---|---|
| Only on one channel | |
| A high-ranking US Air Force member at the London embassy was accused of possessing and distributing child sexual abuse images. | |
| Lieutenant Colonel Michael Morris worked as an assistant military attaché at the embassy and was removed before British police spoke to him. | |
| Morris is assigned to the Air Force District of Washington and is due to appear at a military hearing next month. | |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
The report led on the identity and status of the US Air Force officer, then set out the timeline of his removal and the US military hearing. It gave equal weight to the UK policing question, noting the Met was aware of the removal date and that the Government is in close contact with the US Embassy. The tone was factual and attributed contested details to US and UK authorities.
- “The BBC has been told that a member of staff at the US Embassy in London who was flown out of the UK in August is a high-ranking member of the US Air Force who's been accused of possessing and distributing child sex abuse images.”
- “Lieutenant Colonel Morris is currently assigned to the Air Force District of Washington where he'll appear at a military hearing next month faced with charges including possessing and distributing child abuse images.”
- “The Metropolitan Police says that it's been liaising with the US authorities.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.