Harry Dunn: US government bid to keep Anne Sacoolas’s job secret for ‘national security’
A spokesperson for the Dunn family said the US government’s motion would be ‘resisted strenuously’
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The US government has urged civil courts in Virginia to keep secret the employment details of the woman accused of killing teenager Harry Dunn, in the interests of “national security”.
The teenager was killed in a fatal crash outside RAF Croughton in Northamptonshire in August 2019.
Ms Sacoolas, who was driving the vehicle that collided with Mr Dunn, left the UK after the US government asserted diplomatic immunity on her behalf.
The Crown Prosecution Service later charged Ms Sacoolas with causing death by dangerous driving, but the extradition request submitted by the Home Office was rejected by the US State Department last January.
Charlotte Charles and Tim Dunn, Mr Dunn’s parents, gave legal testimony earlier this month in their damages claim against Ms Sacoolas and her husband.
Ahead of Ms Sacooolas’s deposition next month, lawyers acting on behalf of the US government filed a proposed “protective order” around the details of the couple’s employment, due to “national security” concerns.
The motion said: “Although defendants were employees of the United States government at the time [of the crash], information concerning the United States government has little to no relevance to an adjudication of any remaining issues in this case.
“In general terms, the United States seeks protection … because of the impact the disclosure of information regarding the government in this litigation could reasonably be expected to have on national security.
“The United States respectfully requests that this court enter a protective order following discovery or disclosure of information in this civil action implicating the United States government that is in any way, either directly or indirectly, related to the defendants’ or any other individuals’ employment with the United States government.”
A spokesperson for the Dunn family said that they would tell the US government that the motion would be “resisted strenuously”.
To date, the damages claim has uncovered a significant amount of previously unknown material, including the fact that Ms Sacoolas and her husband both held roles at the State Department at the time of the crash.
Virginia’s Alexandria District Court heard that the couple’s work in intelligence was a “factor” in their departure from the UK, and that the pair left the country for “security reasons”.
Radd Seiger, the family’s spokesperson, told the PA News agency: “We have just been made aware of this development in the US civil claim overnight.
“We are analysing it and the family will be seeking legal advice from their US lawyers.
“It now appears that Mr and Ms Sacoolas have brought in their employers, the US government, to help them minimise what happened to Harry on the night he died in an attempt to prevent both the family and public at large from knowing the truth.
“The US government have asked the parents to consent to their application in court, who in turn have told them it will be resisted strenuously.”
The civil damages claim is among a number of legal processes the Dunn family have entered into in hopes of securing justice for their son.
Before leaving the UK to pursue the damages claim in the US, Mr Dunn told the PA News agency: “It’s obviously daunting being involved in any court case but this is all about our suffering since we lost Harry and we will do whatever it takes to get justice.”
Earlier, foreign secretary Dominic Raab has said that a clear path exists for the UK to push for a form of “virtual trial or process” in the case.
With additional reporting from PA
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.