Oswald: I was under protection of the US government

Listen to the mistake Oswald makes here...He almost gives it away that he was ALWAYS under the protection of the US government.. This guy was a CIA asset...
Interviewer: "I'm curious to know how you supported yourself during the three years that you lived in the Soviet Union?"
Oswald: "I worked in Russia. I was under uh.. the protection of the uh...of the uh.. that is to say.. I was not under the protection of the American government.. at all times.. considered an American citizen..."