Latest news with #JosephSt.Clair
UPI
21-05-2025
- Politics
- UPI
Venezuela frees detained U.S. Air Force veteran
Richard Grenell, President Donald Trump's special presidentail envoy for special missions, seen her in 2020, announced on Tuesday that Venezuela has released U.S. Air Force veteran Joseph St. Clair, who has been detained in the South American for several months. File Photo by Chris Kleponis/UPI | License Photo May 21 (UPI) -- A U.S. Air Force veteran detained in Venezuela has been released, according to his family and Trump administration officials. Joseph St. Clair was freed Tuesday, according to Richard Grenell, President Donald Trump's special presidential envoy for special missions and the newly appointed president of the Kennedy Center. On his X account, Grenell posted pictures of himself and St. Clair boarding a small airplane. "Joe St. Clair is back in America," he said. Grenell on Tuesday met with Venezuelan officials in an unidentified "neutral country to "negotiate an America First Strategy" he said. Scott and Patti St. Clair, Joseph St. Clair's parents, confirmed their son's release from Venezuelan detention in a statement. "This news came suddenly, and we are still processing it -- but we are overwhelmed with joy and gratitude," they said. Details about St. Clair's release were not immediately clear. According to the James Foley Foundation, St. Clair was working in the food services industry in South America when his family lost contact with him in November. In February, the U.S. State Department told his family -- who had not heard from him in months -- that he had been wrongly detained by Venezuela, the foundation, which advocates for U.S. hostage prevention and release, said. St. Clair's release comes after Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, both Democrats from Washington, called on Trump earlier this month to become personally involved in pressing for the release of the Air Force veteran. "Each day he is held, it prolongs his suffering, and the suffering of his friends and family," they said in the letter. In February, the Trump administration secured the release of six Americans who had been wrongly detained in Venezuela for several months.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
American veteran released from imprisonment in Venezuela
An American Air Force veteran has been released from imprisonment in Venezuela, a US official and the man's family said in a statement Tuesday. Joseph St. Clair was released to US special envoy Richard Grenell, the family statement said. St. Clair had been detained since November and was one of nine Americans declared wrongfully detained in Venezuela. 'This news came suddenly, and we are still processing it — but we are overwhelmed with joy and gratitude,' Scott and Patti St. Clair said. The details around Joseph St. Clair's release were not immediately clear. The families of Americans wrongfully detained in Venezuela met virtually with senior national security official Seb Gorka earlier this month, participants and a White House official told CNN. In late April, Patti St. Clair had expressed concern for her son's well-being, noting that he suffers from 'severe PTSD.' 'Can you imagine his fear? Can you imagine the isolation that he must be feeling battling his unseen scars in a foreign prison, unsure if help is even coming?' she said at a 'Bring Our Families Home' event in Washington, DC She had called on President Donald Trump and Congress to 'act now to save Joe and his fellow captives.'
Toronto Star
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Toronto Star
Venezuela frees US Air Force veteran considered wrongfully detained, his family says
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — A United States Air Force veteran detained for several months in Venezuela was released Tuesday, according to a family statement. Joseph St. Clair, who the U.S. government has said was wrongfully detained in the South American country, was handed over to U.S. President Donald Trump's envoy for special missions, Richard Grenell. The family said St. Clair, who had served four tours in Afghanistan, was detained in November.
