How US plotted detention of Greenwald’s partner
An American official's remarks that British authorities gave the US a "heads-up" about the detention of jour nalist Glenn Greenwald's Brazilian partner has triggered outrage in the UK.
The comments by White House deputy spokesman Josh Earnest have cast doubts on the British gover nment’s contention that it played no behind-the-scenes role in the detention of Greenwald's partner.
"There was a heads-up that was provided by the British gover nment, so this was something we had an indication was likely to occur," Earnest said. "But it is not something that we requested and it was something that was done specifically by the British law enforcement officials there," he told a news conference.
David Miranda, the partner of Guardian journalist Greenwald – who has reported extensively on US whistleblower Edward Snowden’s spying revelations - was held for nine hours at Heathrow airport under antiterror laws. Greenwald is taking legal action to prevent police from examining the electronic items seized from Miranda.
The Guardian newspaper said it is "supportive" of the legal challenge but not leading it. Senior British Indian MP Keith Vaz described the detention was an "extraordinary twist to a very complicated story". "I will write to the police to ask for the justification of the use of terrorism legislation – they may have a perfectly reasonable explanation,” he said. Scotland Yard insisted the use of the Terrorism Act to detain the 28-year-old was "legally and procedurally sound".
"The procedure was reviewed throughout to ensure the examination was both necessary and proportionate. Our assessment is that the use of the power in this case was legally and procedurally sound," Metropolitan Police said in a statement.
"Contrary to some reports, the man was offered legal representation while under examination and a solicitor attended," it said. Meanwhile, the US has denied any involvement in detention of the live-in partner of a Guardian jour nalist responsible for leaking reports on US surveillance programme. "There was a heads-up that was provided by the British government.