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Joshua Holt case: US citizen jailed in Venezuela on way home Joshua Holt case: US sanctions 'to stay' despite prisoner release
(about 3 hours later)
A US citizen imprisoned in Venezuela has been freed after two years in jail on charges of concealing weapons. US Vice-President Mike Pence says sanctions will remain on Venezuela despite the release of a US prisoner and his wife on Saturday.
Joshua Holt and his Venezuelan partner Thamy Candelo were on their way home to the US on Saturday, accompanied by US Senator Bob Corker, who helped negotiate their release. Joshua Holt and his Venezuelan wife Thamy Candelo arrived in the US accompanied by Senator Bob Corker, who helped negotiate their release.
Mr Holt and his wife had been imprisoned in Venezuela for two years on charges of concealing weapons.
Mr Corker met Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro for talks on Friday.Mr Corker met Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro for talks on Friday.
US President Donald Trump tweeted on Saturday that he was "looking forward" to seeing Mr Holt at the White House. "Very glad that Josh Holt is now back home with his family - where he has always belonged," Mr Pence wrote in a tweet. "Sanctions continue until democracy returns to Venezuela."
Earlier, US President Donald Trump tweeted that he was "looking forward" to seeing Mr Holt at the White House.
The couple were detained in 2016 at her family's house in the capital Caracas while waiting for US visas, and accused of hiding weapons. Both were jailed for two years.The couple were detained in 2016 at her family's house in the capital Caracas while waiting for US visas, and accused of hiding weapons. Both were jailed for two years.
Mr Corker shared a picture of him with the Holts after Mr Holt's release, adding: "We are on our way home." Mr Corker shared a picture of himself with the couple after their release, adding: "We are on our way home."
He said in a statement that they would land in Washington DC on Saturday evening, where they would visit the president. He later tweeted that they had arrived in the US and had been greeted by Mr Holt's parents.
A spokesman for Mr Maduro said the couple's release was a "gesture" aimed at improving dialogue between Venezuela and the US.A spokesman for Mr Maduro said the couple's release was a "gesture" aimed at improving dialogue between Venezuela and the US.
Mr Maduro was re-elected to a six-year term last week, but Washington has refused to recognise the outcome. The election was marred by an opposition boycott and allegations of vote-rigging.Mr Maduro was re-elected to a six-year term last week, but Washington has refused to recognise the outcome. The election was marred by an opposition boycott and allegations of vote-rigging.
The US had previously accused Venezuela of using Mr Holt as a bargaining chip towards changing Washington's sanctions policy on the country.The US had previously accused Venezuela of using Mr Holt as a bargaining chip towards changing Washington's sanctions policy on the country.
Venezuela has not discussed the nature of the talks with Mr Corker, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, but said they were "good news for the Venezuelan people".Venezuela has not discussed the nature of the talks with Mr Corker, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, but said they were "good news for the Venezuelan people".
Mr Holt is a former Mormon missionary from Utah who had travelled to Caracas in June 2016 to marry his Venezuelan girlfriend, Thamy Candelo.Mr Holt is a former Mormon missionary from Utah who had travelled to Caracas in June 2016 to marry his Venezuelan girlfriend, Thamy Candelo.
She is also a Mormon and the couple intended that Ms Candelo and her children would move with Mr Holt to the US following the marriage, but they were arrested instead.She is also a Mormon and the couple intended that Ms Candelo and her children would move with Mr Holt to the US following the marriage, but they were arrested instead.
Utah Senator Orrin Hatch, who said he had worked with two presidential administrations and various contacts, including President Maduro, on the release, said that he "could not be more honoured to be able to reunite Josh with his sweet, long-suffering family".Utah Senator Orrin Hatch, who said he had worked with two presidential administrations and various contacts, including President Maduro, on the release, said that he "could not be more honoured to be able to reunite Josh with his sweet, long-suffering family".
Mr Maduro has frequently accused the US of trying to overthrow him and the US has tightened sanctions recently. Only on Tuesday, he expelled the senior US representative in the country, Todd Robinson.Mr Maduro has frequently accused the US of trying to overthrow him and the US has tightened sanctions recently. Only on Tuesday, he expelled the senior US representative in the country, Todd Robinson.
Venezuela is five years into an economic crisis, suffering from hyperinflation and severe shortages in food and medicine.Venezuela is five years into an economic crisis, suffering from hyperinflation and severe shortages in food and medicine.
Turnout was low in last Sunday's election, boycotted by much of the opposition. Mr Maduro was credited with winning 68% of the vote.Turnout was low in last Sunday's election, boycotted by much of the opposition. Mr Maduro was credited with winning 68% of the vote.