So, a few years back, MI5 had on their books a guy who worked for them as an informant/intelligence asset/whatever. His identity is still a secret, and so he is known to all of us as Agent X.
He is known to all of us because of a BBC investigation, because it turns out Agent X, on top of being a neo nazi is also a violent misogynist who used his position as a darling of MI5 to abuse his girlfriend and control her life (including, among other things, threatening her with a machete, which is on video for some reason??).
When the BBC started investigating this, MI5’s response was to, basically, lie about everything. Everything.
Was the girlfriend really abused? Maybe she has ulterior motives! I wouldn’t trust ‘er. The BBC’s investigation seems real shaky! Maybe they have ulterior motives! Of course he isn’t violent! And even if he was, of course we don’t know about it!
Only, oops, all lies. She was. The investigation was sound. He was violent. They knew. Because he told them. He told them to their faces who and what he was. Repeatedly. And they didn’t do anything about it. Because he was useful, I guess?
And it’s notable because now that it’s come out there have been (and will be) zero consequences. MI5 has apparently adjusted its internal procedures for sort of thing (bollocks they have) but apart from that, nothing. No consequences, no comeuppance, no recompense, nothing.
So like we’re used to this sort of blasé, “Oh when we said all of that we actually meant the opposite oh well” attitude from the powers-that-be. We’re used to authorities denying everything and appealing every judgement until the last breath. This is what we’re used to. What’s unique here – at least to me – is that MI5’s privileged position as an intelligence agency means that it can get away with lying to a degree others could only dream of.
Lying to a court? Eh, whatever – we’re MI5! You can’t do anything! Literally nothing! Oh, you want to see that information? No, you’re not allowed. We can show it to a secret court and they can report back to you, but you? No, you can’t see it. It’s secret.
Sure hope his neo nazi misogynist was worth it! Bet he gave some great info!
edit: alright, I might be a little hyperbolic about MI5's freedom to lie to courts, but, if anyone else had given false evidence to three courts (three!) there wouldn't be any discussion about what to do next. You know? It'd be pretty obvious what'd happen!
theartofmadeline
tangentwithtanner
snowghoul
