The U.S. State Department confirms that St. Clair, a decorated Air Force veteran, is being wrongfully held in Venezuela.
WASHINGTON D.C., DC — The two senators from Washington state are pleading with President Trump to help bring home an Air Force veteran and Kitsap County man who is being wrongfully detained in Venezuela.
Joseph St. Clair, 33, was last heard from in November and is currently in a Venezuelan prison. Sens. Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray sent a letter to President Trump on Friday pushing for executive branch involvement in returning St. Clair to the country.
“We are writing to urge your personal involvement in pressing for the release of Joseph St. Clair, who is being wrongfully detained in Venezuela,” the letter reads. “He is a decorated U.S Air Force veteran who served four tours in Afghanistan and suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Each day he is held, it prolongs his suffering, and the suffering of his friends and family.”
KING 5 spoke with St. Clair’s family in April, who say they are incredibly proud but anxious about his continued inability to come back to the U.S.
“We’re worried about him,” said St. Clair’s father, Scott, at their home in North Kitsap. “We just want him home.”
The letter says both senators met with members of the St. Clair family last week.
The U.S. State Department previously confirmed St. Clair is being held against his will in Venezuela. He is believed to be in a notorious political prison. It’s part of a pattern in the South American nation where Americans are kidnapped and held as pawns for political leverage.
“I was speechless,” said Scott. “I remember sitting there feeling crippled. What do I even do?”
The St. Clairs have a State Department official assigned to their case, but so far there has been little movement. The family fears their son could be imprisoned for a long time.
A State Department official told KING 5, “It is unacceptable that the Maduro regime has arrested and jailed Americans under questionable circumstances and without respect for their rights. All Americans unjustly detained by the Maduro regime must be released immediately. The United States continues our efforts to secure the release of any remaining Americans unjustly detained by the regime in Venezuela.”
It’s believed a total of nine Americans are currently being held in Venezuela.
KING 5’s Eric Wilkinson contributed to this report.