WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued a statement on the release of American citizens Ryan Corbett and William McKenty from Afghanistan, the result of lengthy negotiations by U.S. officials:
“Any time one of our citizens is wrongfully detained, we must use all levers available to bring them home. After intense behind-the-scenes efforts by U.S. officials, I am relieved that Ryan Corbett and William McKenty will finally return home to their families after a long and difficult detention by the Taliban. I’m grateful to the government of Qatar for their close cooperation in helping to secure their release. Today’s wonderful news is a testament to the United States’ strong alliances. These relationships enhance the safety of our interests, country and citizens. I look forward to continuing to work with leaders in our government and our allies to secure the release of other Americans who remain detained in Afghanistan.”
Ranking Member Shaheen has played a key role in numerous cases of Americans unjustly detained by foreign governments. She was an original cosponsor of the Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act to establish the U.S. government’s policy to respond to wrongful detentions and hostage-taking, which was enacted into law in 2020. In 2023, Ranking Member Shaheen helped enact the bipartisan Supporting Americans Wrongfully or Unlawfully Detained Abroad Act, which authorizes the Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs at the State Department to cover the costs of travel to Washington, D.C. for family of Americans who are wrongfully or unlawfully detained abroad. It also encourages the Department to make mental health support available to detainees and their families. Ranking Member Shaheen worked to secure the freedom of New Hampshire resident Amer Fakhoury, who was detained in Lebanon, as well as Pastor Andrew Brunson, who was wrongfully imprisoned in Turkey. She is also a leading advocate for families of hostages and has worked to see the ISIS terrorists culpable in the murders of James Foley, a New Hampshire native and journalist, Steven Sotloff, Peter Kassig and Kayla Mueller, stand trial in the U.S. for their crimes.
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