In a pressing turn of events, former defense contractor John Murray Rowe Jr. has admitted to attempted espionage after being charged with the attempted delivery of national defense information to a foreign government, as per official statemnet from the U.S. Attorney's Office. The 65-year-old from Lead, South Dakota, held clearances up to TOP SECRET//SCI during his nearly 40-year tenure as a test engineer, working on projects that included U.S. Air Force electronic warfare technology.

Rowe's fall from grace began after multiple security violations and a disclosed interest in Russian affairs prompted his dismissal, which then led him to brazenly engage with an undercover FBI agent he believed to represent the Russian government. He disclosed classified MATERIAL and, in a profoundly misguided attempt, signaled his readiness to "go work for the other team" if job prospects in the U.S. failed him. This revelation along with additional illicit communications were made public by the U.S. Attorney's Office as the case draws closer to sentencing on August 22, with Rowe potentially facing life behind bars.