That's a good point and I don't know how lowly a Chief Steward is but in his statement he said that he had spoken to the FBI but no mention of when that was. Having said that, I should clarify that I doubt he himself has any influence but someone above him may. I can understand that he wouldn't be granted leave again since AH is not a direct relative.
I do not think he is a member of the US Navy. They use private contractors on US ships for certain functions-Kitchen and food prep mostly. This is what a "chief steward" is. Members of the Merchant Marine/Private contractors operate parts of this vessel.
Article does not say that he is a member of the US Navy-just on board a Navy Ship.
http://www.conwaydailysun.com/index.php/newsx/local-news/109589-rich-gray-comments-on-case-from-afar
Ship Info:
http://www.msc.navy.mil/inventory/ships.asp?ship=153 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USNS_Seay_(T-AKR-302)
http://www.questia.com/library/1P3-374476411/navy-cargo-ship-usns-seay-just-keeps-rolling-along
The Seay's crew consists of
30 civilian merchant mariners, all employees of Patriot Contract Services, of Walnut Creek, Calif., which has a contract to operate six cargo ships in the Ready Reserve Fleet, said William L. Cook, an MSC public affairs specialist, based in Norfolk, Va.
Six of the crewmembers are women, explained the ship's master, Capt. Roger L. Haskell. Female crewmembers have become common on MSC ships. "The women are just like the men," he said. "Some are good, and some aren't."
One of the women, in fact, has performed so well that she has been promoted into the officer ranks. Tamara Becker has been named third mate in the deck department. Becker, an eight-year veteran of the Merchant Marine, said she earned the promotion "by meeting all of the requirements and working hard."
The Seay's crew even includes a full family. "We have a husband, wife and daughter on board," Haskell said. "One of my colleagues sent his greetings to them," he joked. "He said, 'Say hi to the Brady Bunch.'
http://seafarers.org/seafarerslog/2013/August2013/USNSSeaytotheRescue.htm
Operated by SIU-
contracted American Overseas Marine (AMSEA),
the Seay is one of 12 Navy ships assigned to the Maritime Prepositioning Ship Squadron Two, which ensures the readiness of the U.S. Navy by prepositioning ships in the Pacific. As one of those ships, the Seay carries prepositioned cargo for various U.S. military services with the mission of transporting vital equipment and supplies to a designated area of operations in support of combatant commanders worldwide.