US Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Faces Charges in Abuse Image Case

A senior US Air Force officer is facing military charges over allegations involving child sexual abuse material after leaving the United Kingdom before British police could question him. The BBC identified the officer as Lieutenant Colonel Michael Morris, who served as an assistant military attaché at the US Embassy in southwest London.

According to the BBC, Morris was flown out of the UK on a civilian flight in August. Although he was not a diplomat, he was understood to have benefited from diplomatic protection. US authorities subsequently questioned him as part of an investigation into allegations involving his brother, Benjamin Morris.

The US Air Force confirmed that charges had been preferred against Lieutenant Colonel Michael Morris, who is currently assigned to the Air Force District of Washington. The military service said the charges and evidence would undergo a review to determine whether the case should proceed to a court-martial.

A spokesperson for the US Air Force said, "Charges have been preferred against Lt Col Michael Morris, currently assigned to the Air Force District of Washington. The charges and evidence will be reviewed to determine whether the case should be tried by court-martial."

The spokesperson also emphasized that the allegations had not established guilt. The officer's case remains subject to a review before a decision is made on whether to pursue a formal military criminal trial.

The US Air Force said "charges are merely allegations and the Department of the Air Force member is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty".

A military hearing was scheduled for November at Joint Base Andrews near Washington, DC, according to the Air Force spokesperson. Morris will enter a plea only if the case is referred to a court-martial.

The investigation also involves Benjamin Morris, 33, who is facing trial in Illinois over allegations that he possessed and distributed child sexual abuse material. He denies the allegations, which Rock Island County State Attorney Dora Villareal told the BBC relate to the period between March and April 2026.

In September, the US Embassy in London confirmed that authorities were investigating the allegations against its former staff member and that he had been reassigned to the United States while inquiries continued.

The embassy said it "expects all personnel to adhere to the highest standards of conduct, and we take these allegations seriously", adding it "quickly informed UK law enforcement and took swift action".

The Metropolitan Police said British officers had maintained contact with US authorities since being informed of the investigation on Tuesday, 25 August. The force confirmed that charges had been brought in the United States and that legal proceedings were continuing.

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said, "We have been liaising regularly with the US authorities since they made us aware on Tuesday, 25 August of their investigation into suspected offences relating to indecent images of children. We are aware that charges have been brought in the US in relation to this case and that legal proceedings are ongoing. We remain in contact with the US authorities".

The UK government said foreign diplomats were expected to comply with British law, just as British diplomats were expected to follow the laws of countries where they served. A government spokesperson declined to comment further while the US investigation remained ongoing.

The BBC reported that the UK government remained in close contact with the US Embassy, including at the ministerial level.