After nearly two years of being imprisoned in Venezuela, a video from Sen. Orrin Hatch
Orrin Grant HatchCongress, stop holding 'Dreamers' hostage Drug prices are declining amid inflation fears The national action imperative to achieve 30 by 30 MORE's (R-Utah) office shows American Josh Holt being reunited with his family in the U.S.
The video, posted on the Twitter account for Hatch's office, depicts Holt and his wife, Thamy, reuniting with family in the senator's Washington, D.C., office, with the caption "Reunited." Onlookers, including Senate Foreign Relations Committee chair Sen. Bob Corker
Robert (Bob) Phillips CorkerCheney set to be face of anti-Trump GOP How leaving Afghanistan cancels our post-9/11 use of force The unflappable Liz Cheney: Why Trump Republicans have struggled to crush her MORE (R-Tenn.) were also present.
"This is great," Hatch can be heard saying in the video.
Reunited. pic.twitter.com/Lb43PfEVXQ
— Senator Hatch Office (@senorrinhatch) May 26, 2018
The video comes hours after Hatch announced he had secured Holt's release in a statement, calling the return of his fellow Utah native the culmination of two years of negotiations with the Venezuelan government and President Nicolas Maduro.
"Over the last two years I've worked with two Presidential administrations, countless diplomatic contacts, ambassadors from all over the world, a network of contacts in Venezuela, and President Maduro himself, and I could not be more honored to be able to reunite Josh with his sweet, long-suffering family in Riverton," Hatch said.
Hatch also thanked Corker, who was involved with the negotiations and met with Maduro on Friday.
President Trump
Donald TrumpDemocrats defeat GOP effort to declare 'lost confidence' in Biden after Afghanistan withdrawal Prosecutors say Jan. 6 rioters committed roughly 1,000 assaults on federal officers Texas emerges as new battleground in abortion fight MORE tweeted Saturday about the "good news" of Holt's return, announcing that he would be invited to the White House Saturday night.
"Good news about the release of the American hostage from Venezuela. Should be landing in D.C. this evening and be in the White House, with his family, at about 7:00 P.M. The great people of Utah will be very happy!" he tweeted.
Good news about the release of the American hostage from Venezuela. Should be landing in D.C. this evening and be in the White House, with his family, at about 7:00 P.M. The great people of Utah will be very happy!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 26, 2018
Holt had traveled to Venezuela to marry his then-partner Thamara Caleño, a native to the country, in 2016 before he was taken into custody by Venezuelan authorities. The government accused Holt and his wife of being spies who were hoarding weapons and attempting to overthrow the government, according to the Miami Herald.
One woman interviewed by the Herald, said Holt had been framed with the crime because he was a U.S. citizen, alleging that she and four other witnesses saw government authorities plant the weapons in Holt's apartment.
Holt and his wife's release come less than a week after Maduro secured reelection in Venezuela's widely denounced presidential election.
The U.S. and Venezuela's political opposition have rejected the elections results, labeling it a sham and voicing concerns about reported irregularities in the voting process.
