American freed from prison in Venezuela arrives in United States
Man had been arrested on weapons charges, accused of spying
An American who was held in a Venezuelan prison for nearly two years returned to the U.S. and was reunited with his family in a tearful meeting.
Josh Holt and his Venezuelan wife, Thamy, landed at Dulles International Airport near Washington, D.C., about 7 p.m. Eastern time, according to Rep. Mia Love, R-Utah.
Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, tweeted a video of the family’s emotional reunion. Holt’s mother, Laurie Holt, gave him a bear hug, not letting go for nearly a minute as they both cried. His father gave both Holt and his wife hugs and joked, “It’s about time!”
President Donald Trump welcomed the couple to the White House and noted they underwent a “very tough ordeal.”
Sitting with Trump and other U.S. officials, Holt said he was “overwhelmed with gratitude” for those who worked for his release.
Trump added that 17 prisoners have been freed from overseas captivity since he’s been president and that others would be coming.
Holt’s wife said they worried until the plane was in the air that their release and flight to the U.S. would somehow fall apart. She said during a text message exchange with The Associated Press during the flight that a fellow inmate at their Caracas jail relayed information Friday night that prison officials were discussing their release.
At 10 o’clock that night, a warden asked to see them, then every two hours afterward they were awakened to have their pictures taken as part of a heightened security protocol.
The next morning, they were told to pack their things and prepare to go.
The couple was accompanied back to the U.S. by Sen. Bob Corker, RTenn., chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
The Venezuelan government said Holt and his wife were freed in a goodwill gesture to the U.S., a measure that surprised some knowing the combative history between the two nations.
Vice President Mike Pence tweeted just as Holt’s plane landed that he was “very glad that Josh Holt is now back home with his family – where he has always belonged” but added sanctions against the country wound “continue until democracy returns to Venezuela.”
Hatch, who had worked for the couple’s release, said “I could not be more honored to be able to reunite Josh with his sweet, long-suffering family in Riverton.” Hatch brought Holt’s parents to the airport to reunite them Saturday evening.
The release came two weeks after North Korea released three American hostages ahead of a planned summit between Trump and Kim Jong Un — a meeting Trump canceled but has since said could be rejuvenated.
“We are grateful to all who participated in this miracle,” Holt’s family said in a statement.
Contributing: Associated Press