President Joe Biden issued a statement Wednesday morning saying the United States welcomes home Reed, a Granbury resident, and that he was delighted to share the good news.
DALLAS (AP) — Trevor Reed is free and returning to the United States after a prisoner swap with Russia took place early Wednesday, and politicians are rejoicing at the news.
President Joe Biden issued a statement Wednesday morning saying the United States welcomes home Reed, a Granbury resident, and that he was delighted to share the good news of his freedom with his family.
“The negotiations that allowed us to bring Trevor home required difficult decisions that I do not take lightly,” Biden said in a statement. “Her safe return of him is a testament to the priority my Administration places on bringing home Americans held hostage and wrongfully detained abroad. We won’t stop until Paul Whelan and others join Trevor in the loving arms of family and friends.”
Senator Ted Cruz earlier released a statement saying he was relieved Russia released Reed from his wrongful detention.
“This Marine will now be reunited with his family and will receive the medical treatment he needs,” Cruz said. “Ambassador John Sullivan is to be commended for the invaluable work he did to free Trevor. It is imperative that Russia release the other Americans whom she continues to unjustly detain.”
Senator John Cornyn also welcomed Reed’s release, writing in a statement that Reed had survived a real-life nightmare, being held in a Russian prison for nearly 1,000 days with little access to medical care or contact with his family.
“I am beyond relieved that Trevor is returning home to his family in Texas, who were tireless in the fight to secure his release and never gave up hope,” Cornyn wrote.
Gov. Greg Abbott sent out a tweet Wednesday morning welcoming Reed back home.
Congressman August Pfluger, who represents the district Reed hails from, also issued a statement, writing that he cannot imagine the relief Reed’s family feels.
“The Reeds have been living through a two-and-a-half-year nightmare fighting for their son’s release,” Pfluger said. “Today, our prayers have been answered. I look forward to welcoming Trevor safely home.”
Representative Colin Allred wrote in a tweet Wednesday morning that what Reed endured is heartbreaking and said his release was good news for his family and all who helped bring him home.
Rep. Joaquín Castro wrote in a tweet that he was relieved to see Reed finally return home to his family after three years of being wrongfully detained.
Reed, a Navy veteran, was arrested in the summer of 2019 after Russian authorities say he assaulted an officer as police were driving him to a police station after a night of heavy drinking. He was sentenced to nine years in prison, although his family has maintained his innocence and the US government has described him as wrongfully detained.
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