U.K. Prosecutors Drop Graham Linehan Anti-Trans Case After Heathrow Arrest

British comedian and screenwriter Graham Linehan, co-creator of "Father Ted" and "The IT Crowd," will face no further legal action following his arrest at Heathrow Airport over social media posts critical of transgender issues. The Crown Prosecution Service dropped the case after reviewing the evidence and determining there was insufficient basis for prosecution. Linehan's arrest, which involved five armed officers and bail conditions including a ban on posting on social media, sparked widespread debate over free speech and the policing of gender-critical viewpoints. Linehan, supported by the Free Speech Union, criticized the police's handling of the case, accusing them of suppressing dissenting opinions and vowed to hold them accountable. The Free Speech Union announced plans to sue the Metropolitan Police for wrongful arrest and unlawful bail conditions. Police officials acknowledged the challenges of policing cultural conflicts around gender identity, emphasizing the complexity of the issue.