American veteran detained in Venezuela returned to US

An American Air Force veteran, whom the State Department said was wrongfully detained, was released from Venezuela and flown back to the United States. 

Joseph St. Clair, who was detained for several months in the South American country, was freed Tuesday and transferred to President Trump’s envoy for special missions Richard Grenell. 

“Joe St. Clair is back in America. I met Venezuelan officials in a neutral country today to negotiate an America First strategy. This is only possible because @realDonaldTrump puts Americans first,” Grenell said in a Tuesday post on the social media platform X. 

St. Clair, who is from Washington state, is a decorated Air Force veteran who served four tours in Afghanistan. 

He was arrested in October of last year in Venezuela close to the country’s border with Colombia, according to The Wall Street Journal, which first reported on St. Clair’s release. 

“This news came suddenly, and we are still processing it, but we are overwhelmed with joy and gratitude,” Joseph’s parents, Scott and Patti, said in a statement on Tuesday. 

The Trump administration was able to secure the release of six Americans who were held hostage in Venezuela in late January. The release came after Grenell met with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, warning the leader that consequences could ensue if the Americans are not let go. 

In early May, Washington Sens. Patty Murray (D) and Maria Cantwell (D) urged the president to press for the release of St. Clair, who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder. 

“We must have decisive action by the U.S. Government to secure his release along with other Americans being wrongfully detained by Venezuela,” they wrote in a May 2 letter to Trump.