Release of US Air Force Veteran from Venezuela

A US Air Force veteran, who the State Department confirmed was wrongfully detained, has returned to the United States after being released from Venezuela.

Joseph St. Clair, who had been held for several months in the South American nation, was freed on Tuesday and met with Rick Grenell, the envoy for President Trump.

“Joe St. Clair is back in America. Today, I met with a Venezuelan official in a neutral location to discuss America’s strategies,” Grenell shared on social media.

St. Clair hails from Washington and has served multiple tours in Afghanistan.

The Wall Street Journal reported that he was arrested in Venezuela back in October, near the Colombian border.

“The news came as a surprise to us, but we are overwhelmed with joy and gratitude,” Joseph’s parents, Scott and Patty, said in a statement on Tuesday.

Recently, the Trump administration successfully negotiated the release of six Americans held in Venezuela, following Grenell’s discussions with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

In early May, Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell urged the president to take action for St. Clair’s release, highlighting his struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder.

“The US government must take crucial steps to ensure his release along with other Americans detained illegally in Venezuela,” they expressed in a letter to Trump on May 2.