[Lancey Howard]

I don't think they expected the national attention.
Now, they are in full CYA mode, hence the government lies.

[Cedric]

Ya. It's either {a} a bone head move by government because that's what governments inherently do, or {b} a sinister plot to silence and/or discredit these guys while sending a message to other agents who don't want to go along with the "program"!