Freedom of speech in the UK and US....Follow

US ban for schoolboy Luke Angel who insulted Barack Obama

WHEN a sixth-form student from Bedfordshire, southern England, sent an insulting email to the White House, officials decided enough was enough.

Luke Angel, 17, had decided to make his feelings known to the most powerful man in the world after watching films on sinister conspiracies. He had also had a few drinks. He cannot remember much about his missive to Barack Obama, as he was "drunk and high" at the time, although he believes he may have called him a "prick".

The response was swift: a police officer arrived at his door in the village of Silsoe, near Bedford, 60km north of London, took his picture, and said he was banned from entry to the land of the free. Reports suggested the FBI had become involved in the matter.

A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said that, on August 3, "we were made aware of an allegation of malicious communications. The information was passed to Bedfordshire Police."

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A spokeswoman for Bedfordshire Police said Mr Angel "had sent an email to the White House which was full of abusive and threatening language" and that when confronted with this allegation, he said, 'Oh dear, it was me'." She said: "He was told that he wouldn't be able to go to America."

Mr Angel seemed to be taking the news on the chin. "I don't really care," he said, though he added: "My parents aren't very happy about it."

The teenager said he been researching the Illuminati, a so-called network of powerful men - said to include Mr Obama - that conspiracy theorists accuse of plotting the course of history.

Mr Angel cannot remember what he wrote to the White House website. "I think I called Barack Obama a prick," he said. "It was silly, the sort of thing you do when you are a teenager and you've had a few."

Bedfordshire Police appeared to be dealing with him as a "silly boy" who would not face charges.

Edit: According to Gizmodo, the story is a hoax. Homeland Security doesn't warn people that they are barred entry, they just wait for you to show up and kick you to the curb.

Edited, Sep 17th 2010 7:05am by Jophiel

"It was silly, the sort of thing you do when you are a teenager and you've had a few."

Dirty pricks. You spend money and time to come over and just as you think you're good, they turn you around and send you home. It's like they cut you first, and then threw salt in the wound.

This. Although, reading the Sun is usually good for a few chuckles when you get a free copy of it on the train.

Well, there's this um, institution, called a Page Three Girl...

Well, there's this um, institution, called a Page Three Girl...