Now to the high stakes prisoner swap with Venezuela.
Ten Americans are now back home this morning in exchange
for Venezuelan man held in the US,
Venezuela also handing over an American fugitive as part of
the deal.
Our chief global affairs correspondent Martha Raddatz has the latest
Martha,
good morning, good morning. With the negotiations were tense and
tricky,
releasing not only that notorious fugitive contractor who escaped in
2022,
but bringing home every American held in Venezuelan jails.
Overnight, ten Americans jailed in Venezuela back on American soil.
Free at last. Free at last.
Thank God almighty. Free at last.
The safe returned home comes after months of secret negotiations.
38 year old freed American businessman Savoy Wright describing the
moment he called his family.
I just FaceTime them and I said I'm,
I'm on the way home,
back to the US and I love you.
And we cried, right. One of six of the ten
Americans considered.
Wrongfully detained, including Avon Hernandez.
Public defender who was taken into custody last year near
the border accused of being a spy.
All you think about when you're in prison is how
you didn't appreciate being free.
Hernandez thanking President Biden for what he calls a difficult
decision.
He got us home and we're with our families and
so we're incredibly grateful all of us also returned to
the US fugitive Leonard Glenn Francis also known as Fat
Leonard the mastermind of a $35 million bribery scheme.
The largest corruption scandal in U.S.
military history. 2015, he pleaded guilty to using prostitutes,
luxury travel and cash to bribe US naval officers to
steer lucrative contracts to his companies.
Here is Frances on an investigative podcast produced by Project
Brazen in 2021.
Everybody was in my pocket.
I had them in my palm.
I was just rolling them around.
And then I could just move the carriers like you
know.
Paper ships in the in the water in exchange the
US granting clemency to Alex Saab,
a top ally, Venezuelans authoritarian President Nicolas Maduro.
Saab greeted on the tarmac by his wife and daughters
saying,
I thank the people of Venezuela,
I'm proud to serve the people of Venezuela and to
serve this government.
Saab was arrested in 2020 on money laundering charges.
Saab was later welcomed at the presidential palace there.
This all comes as the Biden administration is trying to
improve relations with Venezuela.
In hopes the country moves toward free and fair elections,
Robin. That is the hope.
Martha, thank you.