There's a new class of statesmen forming in the U.S. as we speak, and it's ripples in the pond. People get psychotic over the little things, imagine what kind of micro-psychosis could do to somebody whose misfortune is to actually interface with the government, and be collateral in the never-ending state-side counter-intelligence activities. The back-pedalling on his part, I think, is the inconsequential part—never admit your mistakes is 101.