American Fugitive in Russia

Well, the FBI has managed to shut down another story. For about a year, I have been working with a major U.S. news outlet and an established investigative writer whose reporting has helped free people who were wrongfully convicted. From the beginning, I warned them the FBI would stonewall the story. They told me this time would be different. The writer attended a court hearing and tried to speak with the prosecutor. They even warned the prosecutor, “We are coming to your office for an interview, whether you cooperate or not.” They said if the prosecutor refused to respond, the refusal would speak for itself. I gave them everything I had. Court rulings. Hearing transcripts. Evidence. Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of pages of official records. My ex-wife refuses to speak with them. They say they cannot find her. How convenient. The prosecutor refuses to speak. The FBI refuses to speak. Today, I was told there is a 99 percent chance the story is dead because the editor will not publish a story based only on my side. But this was never based only on my side. The other side has spoken through years of court records, sworn testimony, government filings, and hearing transcripts. Their refusal to answer basic questions is also an answer. This is the FBI playbook. Refuse to comment. Make everyone else refuse to comment. Then claim the story lacks both sides. My disappointment today is enormous, but the outcome is not unexpected. I warned the outlet from the first day this would happen. They assured me it would not. Yet here we are again.