Venezuela Releases U.S. Air Force Veteran Previously Detained

Joseph St. Clair, a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, has been released from detention in Venezuela, his family announced Tuesday. He joins a group of Americans who have been freed by Venezuelan authorities during the previous U.S. administration.

Details surrounding St. Clair’s release remain unclear, including his current location and whether he has communicated with family members. His relatives chose not to provide further statements at this time.

This release marks the second occasion in which Venezuelan officials have freed American detainees since the start of the Trump presidency in January.

Earlier in January, six American prisoners returned home following a rare and highly publicized visit by a U.S. special envoy to Caracas, where he met with Venezuela’s president, Nicolás Maduro.

The envoy’s visit drew criticism for potentially legitimizing Maduro, a leader accused of serious human rights violations and election manipulation. It was Maduro’s first public meeting with a U.S. official in several years and was perceived as a diplomatic victory for his government.

However, some observers argued that the successful return of American detainees justified the diplomatic engagement.

St. Clair served four tours in Afghanistan and had traveled to Costa Rica seeking treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder, his father revealed earlier this year. His family remains uncertain about how he came to be detained in Venezuela and was stunned to learn of his imprisonment.