McDermott banned from United Kingdom for podcast remarks

McDermott said he received a letter Thursday from a lawyer purportedly working for King Charles III and Prince William accusing the leader of Northwest Indiana’s most populous city of defaming the former Kate Middleton on his “Left of Center” podcast.

The Times reached out to the British Embassy in Washington, D.C., to attempt to confirm the validity of the letter, which McDermott suggested may be an extremely elaborate, early April Fool’s prank.

The embassy did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the letter that has an envelope bearing older, canceled Royal Mail postage, an air mail designation, and a return address with a postal code whose territory includes the Buckingham Palace home of the king.

The message is printed on “Royal Communications” letterhead; uses British name and date conventions, such as “programme” and “centre;” and is signed by “Rodney J. Baer, Esq., Counselor to HRH the King and the Prince of Wales.”

In the letter, Baer — who appears to mistakenly use “his royal highness” instead of “his majesty” when referring to the king, and who has a seemingly nonexistent internet presence despite his supposed lofty role — accuses McDermott of defaming the princess and demands such statements “must cease in their entirety.”

He also advises McDermott his statements are being investigated for possible sanctions under the 2013 Defamation Act, an actual U.K. law.

Baer acknowledges in the letter that McDermott, as an American, is outside U.K. jurisdiction. But he notes McDermott still may be liable for monetary damages, legal fees and other expenses in connection with his alleged defamation if he visits the U.K. or an affiliated nation.

In the meantime, Baer said McDermott is indefinitely prohibited from entering the U.K. or any affiliated nation while the defamation matter is under investigation.

“Any attempt to thwart this prohibition will be met with a denial of entry and may result in a permanent ban without regard to the merits of the enquiry. Please govern yourself accordingly,” Baer said.

McDermott’s remarks on the March 13 episode of his semiweekly podcast centered on various conspiracies concerning Kate Middleton’s health and apparent disappearance prior to the princess publicly announcing her cancer diagnosis March 22.

During the segment, the mayor also praised the princess’ unusual attractiveness and dental health for a British royal, speculated on the marital fidelity of Prince William, suggested a royal divorce may be imminent, and seemed to anticipate the negative response.

“There’s outrage in England after LOCPOD’s latest episode!” McDermott joked using a popular abbreviation for his podcast.

Following receipt of the letter, McDermott said he really hopes it’s a well-done prank, since a travel ban could ruin his summer plans to visit Northern Ireland, which is part of the U.K.

“If it’s an April Fool’s joke, I tip my cap,” McDermott said. “I certainly don’t want to be closed out of parts of the world because of what I said on a podcast.”

“But I am impressed with LOCPOD’s pull if I got banned from the U.K.”

McDermott promised to say more about his relationship with the United Kingdom during his podcast that’s available live at 7:30 a.m. Region time Friday on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube and other podcast and video streaming sites.

The program also is recorded for later listening or viewing.