President Donald Trump’s special envoy for Special Missions of the United States, Ric Grenell, successfully secured the release of veteran Joseph St. Clair.
The 33-year-old veteran’s release comes as Grenell and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent extended waivers for U.S. companies’ oil licenses in Venezuela, Newsmax reports.
According to Stars and Stripes, St. Clair traveled as a tourist near the Venezuelan border in October 2024 when he was arrested by authorities.
“We learned that Joe decided to take a trip near the border with one of his friends to visit [the friend’s] family member and got too close to the border and got abducted by the Venezuelan police,” Scott St. Clair explained. “They were shaken down, questioned and searched. All their possessions were taken.”
“Joe St. Clair endured four combat tours in Afghanistan to protect this country. Now he is the one who needs protection,” Patti St. Clair said at the time of her son’s detention.
In January, Grenell secured the release of six Americans detained in Venezuela.
“Just been informed that we are bringing six hostages home from Venezuela,” President Trump wrote on X at the time. “Thank you to Ric Grenell and my entire staff. Great job!”
Earlier this month, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the United States rescued hostages held by the regime of Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro. The five hostages, part of an opposition group against Maduro, were rescued at the Argentinian Embassy in Caracas.
Rubio said of the development, “The U.S. welcomes the successful rescue of all hostages held by the Maduro regime at the Argentinian Embassy in Caracas.”
“Following a precise operation, all hostages are now safely on U.S. soil. Maduro’s illegitimate regime has undermined Venezuela’s institutions, violated human rights, and endangered our regional security,” he wrote. “We extend our gratitude to all personnel involved in this operation and to our partners who assisted in securing the safe liberation of these Venezuelan heroes.”
