Latest news with #JosephStClair
Al Jazeera
20-05-2025
- Business
- Al Jazeera
Venezuela frees US citizen in latest exchange with Trump administration
A United States citizen has been transferred to the US after being held for nearly six months in Venezuela. The family of US Air Force veteran Joseph St Clair confirmed his release on Tuesday, following his detention in November of last year. 'This news came suddenly, and we are still processing it, but we are overwhelmed with joy and gratitude,' St Clair's parents, Scott and Patti, said in a statement. US President Donald Trump's envoy for special missions, Richard Grenell, later explained on social media that he had met with Venezuelan officials on the Caribbean island of Antigua to negotiate the release. Grenell credited St Clair's freedom to Trump's 'America First' political platform. 'Joe St. Clair is back in America,' he wrote. 'I met Venezuelan officials in a neutral country today to negotiate an America First strategy. This is only possible because [Trump] puts Americans first. ' Citing anonymous sources familiar with the negotiations, the Reuters news agency reported that Grenell discussed St Clair's case on Tuesday with Jorge Rodriguez, the president of Venezuela's National Assembly and an ally of President Nicolas Maduro. Reuters and another news agency, Bloomberg, both reported that a deal was struck to extend a licence for the US oil company Chevron to operate in Venezuela by 60 days. The Trump administration had previously announced it was revoking the licence in February, on the basis that Venezuela had not upheld its commitment to fair elections. The licence was due to end on May 27. Any extension will likely need the approval of the US Department of State and the US Treasury. The South American country relies on oil as the pillar of its economy. But since the mid-2010s, Venezuela has experienced an economic crisis that has pushed even basic supplies like food and medicine beyond what some families can afford. That, combined with alleged political repression, has prompted an exodus of nearly 7.9 million people out of Venezuela, according to the United Nations. In 2023, Venezuela committed to electoral reforms under the Barbados Agreement, a deal that the US applauded. Then-US President Joe Biden loosened restrictions on Venezuela's oil industry in the aftermath of the agreement. But Venezuela's presidential election on July 28, 2024 was widely criticised for its lack of transparency. While Maduro and his allies claimed he had won a third term, the electoral authorities did not provide any proof of his victory. Instead, the opposition coalition published voting tallies it said proved that its candidate had won by a landslide. That prompted widespread protests and a deadly crackdown from law enforcement. During his first term in office, from 2017 to 2021, Trump had pursued a campaign of 'maximum pressure' on Maduro's government, even offering a $15m bounty for information that led to the Venezuelan leader's arrest. But critics have pointed out that Trump may need Venezuela's cooperation to carry out his goal of 'mass deportation' during his second term. Since returning to office in January, Trump has signalled a willingness to negotiate with Maduro. In late January, he even sent Grenell to meet with Maduro in person in the capital of Caracas. Part of Grenell's directive was to ensure all detained Americans in the country were returned home. As Grenell left the country, he revealed he was returning with six Americans who had previously been imprisoned in Venezuela. In March, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio estimated that nine Americans remained in Venezuela's custody. Venezuela, for its part, has started to accept deportation flights from the US, although in the past it has refused to accept migrants removed from the US. St Clair's family has said that the military veteran was a language specialist who was seeking treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder in South America.
New York Times
20-05-2025
- Politics
- New York Times
Venezuela Frees an Air Force Veteran the U.S. Says Was Wrongfully Held
A U.S. Air Force veteran has been released from Venezuelan detention, according to a statement from his family on Tuesday, joining other Americans who have been freed from the South American country during the Trump administration. It was not immediately clear under what circumstances the former service member, Joseph St. Clair, was released, where he was after being set free, or if he had any contact with his family. The family declined further comment. His release marks the second time that Venezuela has released Americans from detention since President Trump took office in January. Six American prisoners came home from Venezuela in late January after Richard Grenell, a special envoy, made an unusual and highly public visit to Caracas, the capital, to meet with the autocratic president, Nicolás Maduro. The meeting prompted criticism of the Trump government for lending legitimacy to a leader accused of widespread human rights abuses and stealing a recent election. The Venezuelan leader had not had a public visit from a U.S. official in years, and the meeting was seen a win for him. Others argued that bringing Americans home was worth the effort. Mr. St. Clair did four tours in Afghanistan and had traveled to Costa Rica to get treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder, his father told The New York Times in March. He said he was not sure how his son ended up in Venezuela and was 'floored' when he found out he was in prison. 'He served his country,' the older Mr. St. Clair told The Times. At the time he was concerned about how his son's P.T.S.D. would affect him in prison. 'I am in a very dark room,' the father said, 'and I am looking for a sliver of light.' The State Department has said that Joseph St. Clair, whose release was first reported by The Wall Street Journal, was wrongfully detained. In the family's statements on Tuesday, his parents, Scott and Patti St Clair, said, 'This news came suddenly, and we are still processing it — but we are overwhelmed with joy and gratitude.' They thanked President Trump and Mr. Grenell, among others. 'We remain in prayer and solidarity with the families of those who are still being held,' the family added. 'We will never stop loving and supporting them as they continue their fight to be reunited with their loved ones.' With Mr. St. Clair's release there are still eight U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents that remain in Venezuelan custody. Venezuela is in dire economic condition, and Mr. Trump has threatened to choke off much of its international oil trade with new tariffs and other measures. Mr. Maduro's government has signaled its willingness to cooperate with the United States, accepting deportation flights and releasing prisoners, hoping to head off the moves against its oil industry and ease existing sanctions. As Mr. Maduro has lost support both abroad and at home in recent years, his government has arrested dozens of prisoners from around the world to use as leverage in negotiations. Sophie Hunter, whose brother Lucas Hunter is among the Americans still detained in Venezuela, said in a statement that her family was 'grateful' to learn of Mr. St. Clair's release. 'It gives us hope that Lucas will come home to us soon,' she said.
The Independent
20-05-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Venezuela frees US Air Force veteran considered wrongfully detained, his family says
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. 'This news came suddenly, and we are still processing it, but we are overwhelmed with joy and gratitude,' St. Clair's parents, Scott and Patti, said in a statement. Scott St. Clair earlier this month told The Associated Press his son, a language specialist, had traveled to South America to seek treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder. Six other Americans detained in Venezuela in the months after the country's July presidential poll were freed by the government of President Nicolás Maduro after he met Grenell in February. Grenell, during the meeting in Venezuela's capital, Caracas, urged Maduro to take back deported migrants who have committed crimes in the U.S. Hundreds of Venezuelans have since been deported to their home country.
CNN
20-05-2025
- Politics
- CNN
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.'
CNN
20-05-2025
- Politics
- CNN
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.'
