US citizens sue Venezuelan president over alleged torture in prison
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is accused of running a torture-filled prison and using American detainees as bargaining chips in negotiations with the United States in a new lawsuit. Two men from the U.S., who were imprisoned in Venezuela, are suing Maduro, saying his security officials put them through a pattern of torture including waterboarding, electrocution, threats of rape, mind-altering medication and locking them in a small cell.
“The kidnapping, torture and ransoming of American citizens was part of a continuous and systematic scheme to coerce the United States government into policy concessions, the end of an oil embargo, and prisoner swaps,” lawyers for the plaintiffs wrote in the lawsuit.
One of the plaintiffs, Matthew Heath, a former U.S. Marine corporal and U.S. security consultant in Afghanistan, was arrested and charged by Venezuelan authorities at a roadblock in Venezuela in 2020. They allegedly found weapons and a satellite phone on him.
Maduro accused him of being an oil refinery spy for then-President Donald Trump.
Osman Khan, the other plaintiff, was working in Colombia after graduating from college in the United States when he met his Venezuelan girlfriend, who invited him to meet her family.
Authorities detained Khan in 2022 while they were crossing the border and he was charged with terrorism and human trafficking.
The U.S. government found both men were wrongfully detained on false charges and they were each released in a prisoner swap after hundreds of days in jail.
Venezuela’s government has not commented on the lawsuit but has previously denied it targets Americans for imprisonment.
Italy attempts to free journalist detained in Iran
Italy is working to secure the release of one of its journalists, Cecilia Sala, who has been detained in Iran since Dec. 19. Sala, a 29-year-old podcaster and journalist for Il Foglio newspaper, was arrested by Iranian authorities for “violating the laws of the Islamic Republic” while on a journalistic visa.
Earlier this week, Sala’s family learned of the harsh conditions she is enduring in solitary confinement, according to The Wall Street Journal. Sala phoned her family and told them authorities put her in Tehran’s Evin Prison. She also said she is sleeping on the cold floor of her cell with no mattress.
On Friday, Jan. 3, Iranian authorities demanded that Italy release Iranian businessman Mohammed Abedini. Italian authorities arrested him in Milan last month at the request of the United States.
The U.S. accuses Abedini of illegally supplying drone technology to Iranian-backed militants, used to kill three U.S. soldiers in an attack in Jordan nearly one year ago.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is facing growing pressure to secure Sala’s release. However, if Meloni agrees to release Abedini in a potential prisoner swap for Sala, the move could harm her future relationship with President-elect Donald Trump.
Trump has vowed to put “maximum pressure” on Iran, The Journal reports.
Hundreds of Ukrainian, Russian soldiers return home in largest prison swap
Russia and Ukraine carried out their 59th prisoner exchange since the full-scale invasion began, with 189 Ukrainians and 150 Russians released in a deal mediated by the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The exchange highlights one of the few direct avenues of relief in a conflict now approaching its third year. Thousands of captives remain on both sides.
Among the Ukrainians released were soldiers, border guards and civilians, some held captive since the early weeks of the invasion. The group included individuals captured in key battles, such as the Siege of Mariupol and the defense of Snake Island, symbols of Ukraine’s resilience.
Russia’s Defense Ministry stated that its freed troops were first transported to Belarus, where they received medical checkups and psychological evaluations before returning home. Russia’s human rights commissioner welcomed the soldiers, commending their endurance during captivity.
The UAE played a critical role in brokering the exchange, continuing its efforts as a neutral mediator in the conflict. Over the past year, Abu Dhabi has facilitated the release of more than 2,000 captives, leveraging established relationships to navigate strained ties between Moscow and Kyiv.
In the United States, the exchange coincided with President Joe Biden’s approval of $2.5 billion in additional military aid for Ukraine. However, uncertainty looms as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office in a few weeks. Trump has expressed a commitment to mediating an end to the war, but his administration’s potential policy shifts remain unclear.
Teacher Marc Fogel given State Department’s ‘wrongfully detained’ label
New federal filings show the State Department officially designated Marc Fogel, the Pennsylvania teacher held in Russia since 2021, as “wrongfully detained.” The rare designation puts the full force of the U.S. government behind the cause of getting a prisoner home.
Russian authorities arrested Fogel in August 2021 after finding a small amount of medical marijuana on him. Fogel and his wife were on their way to Russia for their 10th year of teaching in Moscow.
In 2022, Fogel was sentenced to 14 years of hard labor for drug possession charges.
Fogel’s mother, Malphine Fogel, sued the State Department this June. She said the agency had failed to explain why they had not applied the “wrongfully detained” label to Fogel.
In her complaint, Malphine Fogel pointed out that the facts of her son’s case were similar to those declared wrongfully detained, including WNBA star Brittney Griner.
Fogel’s mother is filing this week to dismiss her own lawsuit, citing the State Department’s application of the “wrongfully detained” designation. The filing reveals the family learned about the label in October.
The attorney representing Fogel’s mother told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, “The designation is extremely important in terms of getting Marc home. It provides huge resources to the government to actually facilitate the release. In terms of getting a hostage home from a foreign country, this is absolutely necessary.”
Fogel has remained in Russia despite multiple deals securing the release of Americans held in the country.
The U.S. got Griner home after 10 months in Russian detention in December 2022 in a deal that swapped her for a convicted Russian arms trader.
A prisoner swap in August led to 15 people held in Russia being freed, including U.S. Marine veteran Paul Whelan and Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich.
Fogel’s family is asking the outgoing Biden administration and incoming Trump administration to work together to secure his release.
3 Americans imprisoned in China for years are now free after agreement
Three Americans imprisoned in China for years have been released and are coming home to the United States. The White House announced on Wednesday, Nov. 27, the agreement between Washington, D.C., and Beijing in the final weeks of President Joe Biden’s presidency.
The exchange is reportedly part of a prisoner swap with the U.S. releasing unidentified Chinese nationals, although the White House would not confirm those details.
The United States says the freed Americans were wrongfully detained and one had been facing a death sentence on drug charges. The other two U.S. citizens were imprisoned for alleged espionage and one faced a life sentence.
The U.S. said the White House had brought up the release of the three Americans over the past several years, including earlier this month when Biden met with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Asia-Pacific Cooperation Summit in Peru.
The release of the three Americans comes just months after Beijing released a pastor from California who spent nearly two decades in prison after being convicted of contract fraud.
Egypt proposes cease-fire, prisoner swap to ease Gaza’s devastation
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has proposed a plan aimed at reducing violence in Gaza, calling for a brief truce, a prisoner exchange and renewed peace talks between Hamas and Israel. The proposal, announced by al-Sisi, includes releasing four Israeli hostages held by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.
He suggested that broader cease-fire discussions could follow within 10 days of a temporary truce.
Hamas and Israel have not yet responded officially. However, sources close to the mediation effort indicate that while Hamas may consider the offer, it remains focused on securing an Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza.
The United Nations has described conditions in northern Gaza as “unbearable.” Officials pointed to severe shortages of food, medical supplies and essential services.
An Israeli airstrike on a refugee camp in Jabalia killed 20 people, according to officials. A different strike killed nine sheltering in a school.
According to Gaza’s Hamas-run Health Ministry, the ongoing conflict has led to over 43,000 Palestinian deaths. About 90% of Gaza’s population has been displaced.
Egypt has been spearheading mediation efforts, with support from the United States and Qatar. The success of the proposal hinges on responses from both Israel and Hamas, as negotiators aim to establish a temporary cease-fire lasting up to a month, setting the stage for more permanent peace discussions.
Freed American Paul Whelan describes years inside Russian prison
Former Marine Paul Whelan has shared new details about his over five-year imprisonment in Russia, including allegations of psychological and physical abuse. Whelan, who was released in August as part of a multination prisoner swap, credits WNBA star Brittney Griner for helping keep his case in the public eye.
Whelan was arrested in 2018 on charges of espionage that he and U.S. officials have repeatedly denied.
For more than five years, Whelan endured what he described as dire conditions, including insufficient food, medical neglect, and continuous pressure from Russian authorities to confess to spying for the U.S. government.
AP Photo
Among those advocates was Griner, who herself was detained in Russia in 2022 on drug charges. After her release in a high-profile swap for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, Griner became a vocal supporter of Whelan, using her platform to raise awareness about his continued imprisonment.
Whelan was not part of the 2022 prisoner swap that freed Griner, a decision that left him fearing for his life.
He said he believed being left behind meant the U.S. had effectively signed a “death warrant” for him. However, in August, Whelan’s long-awaited release was secured in a multination agreement, which also freed Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and several other prisoners.
Now back home in Michigan, Whelan is struggling to reintegrate into civilian life. He has described dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder and concerns about finding work after his long absence.
Whelan remains committed to advocating for other Americans who remain detained overseas, much like Griner did for him.
‘Merchant of Death’ allegedly returns to arms trade after US release
Viktor Bout, the infamous Russian arms dealer known as the “Merchant of Death,” is reportedly back in the arms trade after his release by the U.S. in 2022. According to The Wall Street Journal, Bout is now reportedly brokering weapons deals for the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.
Bout was originally sentenced to 25 years in a U.S. prison for conspiring to sell weapons to a Colombian terrorist group with the intent to kill Americans. He was arrested in 2008 during a U.S. sting operation, and his arms dealings have spanned decades, supplying conflicts across Africa, South America, and the Middle East.
In 2022, Bout was released from U.S. custody as part of a prisoner swap for WNBA player Brittney Griner, following her imprisonment in Russia for possession of cannabis oil cartridges.
Getty Images
Currently, Bout is allegedly facilitating the sale of Russian arms to the Houthis, including AK-74 rifles and potentially more advanced weapons, with deliveries disguised as food shipments.
The U.S. and its allies have expressed concern as Houthi forces have launched attacks on merchant vessels in the Red Sea. These new arms deals could escalate tensions in the region, posing potential threats to U.S. forces.
While Bout denied any involvement, the implications of these deals are significant for both U.S. military interests and regional stability in the Red Sea.
Gershkovich, Whelan return to US in 24-person prisoner swap with Russia
It was an emotional reunion as Americans Evan Gershkovich and Paul Whelan returned home after the largest prisoner exchange between Russia and the U.S. since the Cold War. And former President Donald Trump’s running mate, Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, visits the U.S.-Mexico border in Arizona. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Friday, August 2, 2024.
Gershkovich, Whelan return to US in 24-person prisoner swap with Russia
Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan and several other Americans who were wrongfully being detained by Russia are back on American soil. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris joined loved ones in greeting them off the plane at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland late Thursday night, Aug. 1.
It was an emotional reunion as these high-profile American prisoners returned home as part of a major prisoner exchange between the U.S. and Russia. President Biden said negotiations had been going on for months and involved seven countries and two dozen prisoners.
This handout image was provided by a third-party organization and may not adhere to Getty Images’ editorial policy. In this handout photo provided by the U.S. government, Wall Street Journal Reporter Evan Gershkovich, Radio Free Europe journalist Alsu Kurmasheva and former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan pose with an American flag in the airport lounge on Aug. 1, 2024 in Ankara, Turkey. Gershkovich, Kurmasheva, Whelan and others were involved in a multinational prisoner swap with Russia. Source: Getty Images
Paul Whelan served five years in captivity and Evan Gershkovich had been detained for 491 days. In exchange for their freedom, Russia is getting back eight of its own, including two spies being released by Slovenia and a convicted murderer held in Germany.
Some foreign policy experts say prisoner swaps could give U.S. adversaries incentive to take more Americans on false pretenses and treat them as bargaining chips. The president responded to reporters questions, saying, “My job is to make sure, number one, they don’t get them and if they do, we get them back.”
After the National Electoral Council declared Maduro the winner, thousands of opposition supporters took to the streets in protest, which turned deadly. At least 11 people have reportedly been killed. Hundreds of protesters have also been arrested since then in what has become a volatile week in the nation — with still many questions left unanswered about the future of Venezuela’s ruling party.
JD Vance tours southern border in Arizona
Former President Donald Trump’s running mate Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, toured the border in Arizona on Thursday, Aug. 1, and met with border patrol, who say southern Arizona is at the “epicenter of smuggling fentanyl.” While there, Vance laid out what would be some of the border security measures the Trump administration would put in place immediately should Trump win the 2024 election.
Those measures include reimplementing deportations and other Trump-era immigration polices such as “Remain in Mexico” and continuing construction on the border wall.
Vance now heads to Atlanta where he and Trump will share the stage at a rally on Saturday, Aug. 3.
As for likely Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris, she has started to secure delegates to officially become the Party’s nominee.
Her campaign has a busy week ahead, expecting to secure her spot at the top of the Democratic ticket as early as Monday, Aug. 5. Soon after, she’s expected to announce who her running mate will be before holding a joint rally in Philadelphia on Tuesday, Aug. 6.
Intel cutting 15% of workforce
Chip maker Intel is cutting 15% of its workforce, which is at least 15,000 jobs, in an effort to compete with its more successful rivals. In a memo to staff Thursday, Aug. 1, Intel’s CEO said the company plans to save $10 billion in 2025 alone.
Intel is also suspending its stock dividend as part of its cost-cutting plan.
The company reported a loss of $1.6 billion from April through June of 2024 (Q2), and it forecast third-quarter (Q3) revenues will be well below expectations. That news sent company shares tumbling, setting the chipmaker up to lose more than $24 billion in market value.
Judge overturns $4.7B NFL Sunday Ticket verdict
A federal judge has overturned a nearly $5 billion verdict in an NFL “Sunday Ticket” case. The class-action lawsuit was brought by subscribers who alleged the NFL violated anti-trust laws by overcharging to watch out-of-market games on its paid subscription service.
Upon appeal, a U.S. district judge ruled two witnesses’ testimonies should have been left out and said the jury’s verdict was “clearly not supported by evidence and must be vacated.”
Simone Biles, Katie Ledecky win more medals to make Olympics history
Team USA picked up more Olympic gold Thursday, Aug. 1, bringing its total to nine so far at the Paris games. Thursday marked historic wins in fencing and rowing, as well as swimmer Kate Douglass earning her first gold medal.
Even more history was made by two of the biggest stars on Team USA: Simone Biles and Katie Ledecky.
Biles won her sixth gold medal — and ninth medal overall — in the individual all-around competition for a second time, reclaiming her 2016 title. Biles, who is already the most decorated American gymnast in Olympics history, is the first American to win the event more than once and the first gymnast to win it non-consecutively.
Biles wasn’t alone in representing the U.S on the medal stand. Her teammate Suni Lee took home the bronze.
U.S. swimmer Katie Ledecky’s team earned the silver in the 4×200 meter freestyle, giving Ledecky her 13th medal. That’s the most by any female U.S. Olympian in the history of the games.
And they’re not done yet. Both Biles and Ledecky still have chances to add more medals to their historic totals in the days ahead.
US, Russia secure largest prisoner swap deal since fall of Soviet Union
The United States announced a prisoner swap with Moscow on Thursday, Aug. 1, that freed Wall Street Journalist Evan Gershkovich, former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan and more than a dozen others from prison in Russia. Their release is part of the largest prisoner exchange involving the United States and Russia since the fall of the Soviet Union. The deal included at least 24 people.
“This deal would not have been possible without our allies: Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway and Turkey,” President Joe Biden said. “They all stepped up and they stood with us. They stood with us, and made bold and brave decisions, released prisoners being held in their countries, who were justifiably held and provided logistical support to get Americans home.”
The United States and its allies gave Russia a cyber hacker in the United States, alleged “sleeper agents,” who lived double lives in Slovenia and one person who was charged for the shooting death of a man in a Berlin park.
Earlier in July, a judge sentenced Gershkovich to 16 years in a high security penal colony after Russian authorities charged him with “gathering secret information.”
The U.S. State Department maintains that both men were innocent and wrongfully detained.
“Their brutal ordeal is over, and they are free,” Biden said. “Moments ago, the families and I were able to speak to them on the telephone from the Oval Office. They’re out of Russia earlier today. They were flown to Turkey and soon they’ll be wheels up on their way home to see their families.”
The multinational deal also secured the release of former regional office coordinators for the late Alexei Navalny.
Negotiations between the United States, its allies and Russia reportedly began in 2022 following the release of WNBA star Briteny Griner.
