In dispute over Indian diplomat, an internal U.S. rift and many unanswered questions - The Washington Post
The statement by U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara appeared to have taken much of the Obama administration, including his own Justice Department bosses, by surprise.
“
We didn’t know it was coming,” said a senior administration official, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal matters.
We didn’t know it was coming
The fact here is that we are respectful of the law enforcement process,” the senior official said. “We also have to be respectful of the fact that how these things are handled can have enormous repercussions, especially in a country with sensitivities like India.
Relevant officials in the administration have known for months that an investigation was underway, but “
nobody knew this was going to happen,” another U.S. official said.
Referring to Khobragade’s arrest, made after she dropped her children off at school, and her booking, strip-search and incarceration in New York, the official said, “
That’s not the way these things are done.”
If they wanted to throw the book at her,” the second official said,
the United States could have protested to the Indian Embassy in Washington and “made her leave the country. That’s the way these things are done,” particularly in cases in which no physical abuse is alleged.
When someone is arrested for a violation of federal law, they do not get processed for a tea and crumpets ceremony