What's up with the guy from DC who got caught trying to help a coup in the Congo?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Spook.

Can’t rule it out, but the social media presence and drug conviction point to privileged weirdo.

You can definitely rule it out. By all accounts these guys were amateurish clowns. No real, self-respecting spook is going to put themselves in harms way to get caught in the middle of a ham-fisted coup.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Spook.

Can’t rule it out, but the social media presence and drug conviction point to privileged weirdo.

Once again, most likely NOC. Crazier people have been exposed as such in the not too distant past.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:State department passport too?

Are you reacting to the bottom right where it says "US Dept of State"? I think that's standard.

Wait that doesn’t make any sense. State Department folks take and pass the foreign service exam, and work in embassies to further diplomacy and friendly dialog.

They don’t participate in coups.

His passport is a standard US passport - every US passport is issued by the Department of State. His has a 10 year expiration, which is standard for tourist passports, but not for diplomatic ones.

[Anonymous]

You’ve never participated in a coup in an African country, OP? Live a little. The people on this forum are so boring and lame.

[Anonymous]

Oh my gosh. The new article about the other American involved (from Utah) is just mind boggling. WTH happened.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh my gosh. The new article about the other American involved (from Utah) is just mind boggling. WTH happened.

Link?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh my gosh. The new article about the other American involved (from Utah) is just mind boggling. WTH happened.

Add a link, doofus.

[Anonymous]

Ugh. I’m the doofus. And it’s a paywall link so I think I’ll cause more problems by posting it? The Sunday Times had a long story on it including some additional backstory on Christian Malanga.

Here’s a free article that’s a bit less detailed

https://abcnews.go.com/amp/International/utah-woman-describes-terror-stepson-detained-beaten-after/story?id=110463380

Long story short - guy goes with his friend to S Africa, parents had looked up friends dad on the internet and thought he looked legit (was wearing a suit and listed himself as a Congolese opposition politician) and the next thing they know their son had taken part in the coup in the DRC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ugh. I’m the doofus. And it’s a paywall link so I think I’ll cause more problems by posting it? The Sunday Times had a long story on it including some additional backstory on Christian Malanga.

Here’s a free article that’s a bit less detailed

https://abcnews.go.com/amp/International/utah-woman-describes-terror-stepson-detained-beaten-after/story?id=110463380

Long story short - guy goes with his friend to S Africa, parents had looked up friends dad on the internet and thought he looked legit (was wearing a suit and listed himself as a Congolese opposition politician) and the next thing they know their son had taken part in the coup in the DRC.

They offered him money. He stupidly accepted.

I’m going to use this as an example to my kid about the importance of how the people you know and surround yourself with can negatively (and positively) affect your life.

[Anonymous]

It’s a really stupid decision. And I don’t see why the US would help someone who literally took up arms against a foreign country as a fun summer project. You do that kind of thing you’re on your own. I feel bad for the family though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Yes, I think his wife is a victim and I feel sorry for her. Maybe there were red flags before they got married, maybe there weren't. But now her husband is in deep trouble and her world has been turned upside down. She herself has not done anything criminal.

Would have been a good idea for her to stop procreating with him after his federal weed trafficking conviction.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some people are just criminals. I dated a guy who is now an executive in the pharma industry who sold guns and drugs in high school. More people than you think sold drugs in college.

Maybe weed but not guns.

[Anonymous]

He was not a "kid". He is a grown man capable of making his own decisions. I don't know why the media wants to infantilize a grown man.

Anyway I'm not buying his story and I'm glad the Congolese police captured them.

People need to learn & accept that you cannot do whatever you want to do in other countries.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He was not a "kid". He is a grown man capable of making his own decisions. I don't know why the media wants to infantilize a grown man.

Anyway I'm not buying his story and I'm glad the Congolese police captured them.

People need to learn & accept that you cannot do whatever you want to do in other countries.

I agree, though I don’t think anyone here has called him a kid. Just his families right?

[Anonymous]

Saying the quiet part aloud: do you think the two Americans were invited for a "vacation", then coerced?