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Scott Ritter says his passport was seized by the State Department, while en route to St. Petersburg International Economic Forum “I was boarding the flight. Three [police] officers pulled me aside. They took my passport. When asked why, they said ‘orders of the State Department’. They had no further information for me,” Ritter said.

2:25 PM · Jun 3, 2024

This should prove interesting. There’s a good account of what is known here:

US Ex-Intel Officer Claims Removal from Flight to Russia by State Department Order

Former US Marine intelligence officer Scott Ritter was removed from a flight to Russia by US law enforcement on State Department orders. His passport was confiscated, and he was escorted out of the airport without explanation.

This action would seem to presage criminal charges being brought against Ritter, but usually restricting his ability to leave the country would be brought up after arrest and charging. For this approach to be taken would appear to signify that some last minute decision was made.

Also of note, there is a reference to Judge Nap in the article. Here is what the Judge said about this at the beginning of his video with Alastair Crooke:

Hi everyone, Judge Andrew Napolitano here for judging Freedom. Today is Monday, June 3rd 2020. As you know, I thought I was going to be on my way to St Petersburg. It's 8 o'clock in the morning here in the US. My trip was cancelled due to events in Russia that are not national or major diplomatic events, but events that involved this trip.

That’s it. No suggestion that the Judge’s passport was confiscated. Here’s the main part of the article. Note that the flight itself was not canceled—only Napolitano’s trip was canceled. He doesn’t say by whom or for what reason. Note too that Napolitano doesn’t say he was removed from the flight, as was Ritter.

Former US Marine intelligence officer Scott Ritter has alleged that he was removed from a flight to Russia by US law enforcement on the orders of the State Department. Ritter was en route to attend the St. Petersburg Economic Forum when the incident occurred.

Ritter recounted that he was pulled aside by three Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers while boarding his flight out of New York. The officers seized his passport and provided no further information beyond stating that the orders came from the State Department. Ritter's bags were also removed from the flight, and he was escorted out of the airport.

This incident raises concerns about the US government's ability to restrict citizens' travel and freedom of movement, potentially setting a precedent for future interventions. The lack of transparency surrounding the State Department's orders could have implications for US citizens traveling to Russia and other countries, potentially straining international relations.

"As I was boarding my flight out of New York I was pulled aside by three CBP officers, who seized my passport. When asked why, they said orders of the State Department. No further information was provided. My bags were removed from the flight, and I was escorted out of the airport," Ritter stated.

Judge Andrew Napolitano, a former New Jersey Superior Court judge and host of the Judging Freedom podcast, was mentioned alongside Ritter in connection with this incident. However, details regarding Napolitano's involvement or whether he faced similar actions were not immediately clear.

The St. Petersburg Economic Forum is a significant international event that brings together business leaders, policymakers, and experts to discuss economic issues. Ritter's planned attendance at the forum highlights the broader geopolitical tensions and the scrutiny faced by individuals engaging in international activities.

The State Department has not yet commented on the specifics of Ritter's removal from the flight. The lack of transparency surrounding the incident raises questions about the reasons behind the State Department's orders and the implications for US citizens traveling to Russia.