He had finished his deployment and was heading back to the U.S. when he made a side trip to Vladivostok, Russia, to visit a woman he was romantically involved with, officials said.
I’m certain this travel was “unofficial” and not cleared with the correct people. I had to go talk to the security officer for an interview / safety brief and a signature when I was stationed in Italy and wanted to visit a friend in Budapest. No fucking way they’d let someone go to Russia right now.
This. Russia is an adversary state. We’re closer to actual direct conflict with them than we have been since the Cuban missile crisis. There’s a 0% this was above board and approved.