They are trying to cover for him. This stuff is the tip of the iceberg. I would like to see his security clearance paperwork that he filed for last few renewals and what the investigative paperwork says. Work in and multiple trips to an adversary country does not play well. And he would have to do a special report each time he did and likely any other contacts.

Seems to me like he was being protected from the inside. I am not sure which side is controlling him at this point.