U.S. citizen stranded in the United Kingdom after failed U.S. extradition attempt asks President Trump to intervene
In April 2020 it will be ten years since Bill White has been able to travel outside the United Kingdom. An American, who broke the law in 1997, White was made stateless by the Obama Department of Justice (DoJ in New Hampshire) and has remained stranded, in England, without a passport.
Born in the United States but living in England with his family since July 1989, White obtained a US passport in 1997 based upon false information. Using that passport, he travelled throughout the world for 13 years, officially replacing and renewing the passport three times.
In 2010, acting on a tip from White's co-conspirator, who was blackmailing him, the FBI requested assistance from the United Kingdom and White was arrested at his home by the UK Border Agency. Taken into custody, White immediately admitted the offence and was convicted and sentenced in less than 45 days. In January 2011 White, having served the sentence imposed by the court was released from custody and returned to his home, with his wife and three children, thinking that the worst was behind him.
Nearly three years after his arrest, in late December 2012, the United States made an official extradition request to British authorities, hoping to prosecute White again, but this time in the United States.
On 28 February 2013 White was re-arrested in England and a hearing eventually took place on 18 June 2013 during which Judge Howard Riddle, Senior District Judge (Chief Magistrate) at Westminster Magistrates' Court in the City of London discharged the U.S. extradition request on the grounds of double-jeopardy.
Judge Riddle gave the United States two weeks to appeal his decision but on 1 July 2013 the DoJ, through its UK lawyer, notified the solicitors representing Bill White that the government of the United States would not appeal the UK court's ruling.
Having failed to convince the court, Alfred Rubega, (then) Assistant US Attorney, with the US Attorney's Office in the District of New Hampshire, working from Concord, NH (but now retired) took the unusual step of personally threatening White, saying that [his office] would file new, and different charges against him and that the DoJ would make the extradition request again, and again if needed, until [they], the United States, was successful. He also informed White that all U.S. Embassies around the world would be notified not to issue him a passport.
Since then the U.S. Embassy in London has refused to issue a passport to White and embassy staff have refused to allow anyone acting on his behalf, with legal power of attorney, to apply for a passport.
After President Trump was elected in 2016, White wrote to the White House asking for help.
"It's nearly been 10 years since the FBI had me arrested for the offence. I was prosecuted and served my sentence and I believe that the court, which the Department of Justice sought for help, has ruled", White said.
"This particular DoJ appears unable to accept court decisions and is prepared, like in the case of former governor Rod Blagojevich, to continue with this obvious abuse of power unless and until they get the result they want", White explained.
"I have written to President Trump a couple of times... so hopefully he will be able to consider my case after his re-election in November, if not before", White said.
White has written to President Trump asking for the U.S. warrant to be quashed or set-aside or for whatever other assistance the President is able to provide.
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