Biden Negotiates Release of Seven Americans from Venezuela, No Mention of Brittney Griner in Statement

On Saturday, The White House announced seven wrongfully detained Americans have been released from Venezuela in a swap for two nephews of President Nicolas Maduro’s wife.

The pair, exchanged for the seven Americans, had been jailed for drug smuggling convictions. Five of the Americans are oil executives who have been held for almost five years. This is the biggest trade of detained citizens for the Biden Administration.

There has been no new news on the detention of WNBA star Brittney Griner and there was no mention of her in the statement released on the swap. The only acknowledgment was a general statement to all families with loved ones still wrongfully detained.

Joe Biden’s statement on the release of the wrongfully detained Americans can be read below:

“Today, after years of being wrongfully detained in Venezuela, we are bringing home Jorge Toledo, Tomeu Vadell, Alirio Zambrano, Jose Luis Zambrano, Jose Pereira, Matthew Heath, and Osman Khan.”

“These individuals will soon be reunited with their families and back in the arms of their loved ones where they belong.  I am grateful for the hard work of dedicated public servants across the U.S. Government who made this possible, and who continue to deliver on my Administration’s unflinching commitment to keep faith with Americans held hostage and wrongfully detained all around the world.”

“Today, we celebrate that seven families will be whole once more. To all the families who are still suffering and separated from their loved ones who are wrongfully detained – know that we remain dedicated to securing their release.”