Freed Utahn returns to U.S.
American man, wife had been held in Venezuela for nearly 2 years
An American who was held in a Venezuelan prison for nearly two years is back in the U.S. and was reunited with his family in a tearful airport meeting.
Josh Holt and his Venezuelan wife, Thamy, landed at Dulles International Airport near Washington, D.C., about 7 p.m. ET, 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 Trump tweeted earlier Saturday that he would be hosting the Utah resident at the White House after the family reunion. He hailed the release, saying that “the great people of Utah will be very happy!”
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 Pence tweeted 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 he said sanctions against the country would “continue
until democracy returns to Venezuela.”
Hatch, who had worked for the couple’s release, said that “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, who called the release a “miracle,” to the airport to reunite them Saturday.
Holt had gone to Venezuela in June 2016 to marry Thamy, whom he met online while looking for Spanishspeaking Mormons who could help him improve his language skills. He was arrested on weapons charges and accused of being a spy.