Senator Travels to Venezuela to Secure the Release of Utah Native and His Wife
CARACAS, Venezuela – U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today issued the following statement on the release of American citizen Josh Holt and his wife, Thamy, who have been detained in a Venezuelan prison for the last two years.
“I am pleased to join Senator Hatch and President Trump in announcing the release of Josh and Thamy Holt,” said Corker. “Senator Hatch has worked tirelessly on the Holt family’s behalf, and I was honored to play a small role in bringing Josh and his wife home to the United States. I also would like to thank Secretary Pompeo and his team at the State Department for all that they have done.”
“On a personal note, I would like to thank Caleb McCarry, an incredibly valued member of my staff, for his dogged determination. We would not have been successful without his involvement,” added Corker.
Earlier this year, at the request of Hatch, Corker began discussions with the Venezuelan government in an effort to secure the couple’s release. He met in March with Venezuelan Governor Rafael Lacava in Washington and met Friday in Caracas with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro at his request.
Corker and McCarry are traveling with the Holts from Venezuela and will land in Washington this evening.
Corker has long advocated for the release of unjustly detained Americans around the world, including in Iran, North Korea, Turkey, and Africa.
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