Press Release

January 9, 2014
Cardin Mikulski Call For Renewed Action From White House To Free Marylander Warren Weinstein Kidnapped By Terrorists In Pakistan

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-Md.) in a letter to President Obama called for renewed action to help free Marylander Warren Weinstein who was kidnapped by terrorists from his residence in Pakistan.  The 72-year-old resident of Rockville was taken hostage in August of 2011.

 

“In a video released on December 26, 2013, Mr. Weinstein states that he feels ‘totally abandoned and forgotten’ by his country. Mr. Weinstein’s wife, Mrs. Elaine Weinstein, is concerned that the U.S. Government is placing an insufficient level of urgency on her husband’s case. …[W]e urge you to redouble efforts, using the considerable national security resources of the U.S. Government, to find Mr. Weinstein and bring him home safely to his family,” the Senators wrote. “It is important that the resources of the U.S. Government are made available to support Mr. Weinstein’s release and that his family is kept apprised of any developments.”

 

The full text of the Senators’ letter to President Obama follows:

 

January 8, 2014

 

President Barack Obama

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20500

 

Dear Mr. President,

 

We are writing to express our deep concern about the case of Mr. Warren Weinstein of Rockville, MD, who was kidnapped by terrorists from his residence in Lahore, Pakistan, on August 13, 2011.  

 

In a video released on December 26, 2013, Mr. Weinstein states that he feels “totally abandoned and forgotten” by his country.   Mr. Weinstein’s wife, Mrs. Elaine Weinstein, is concerned that the U.S. Government is placing an insufficient level of urgency on her husband’s case.  She also has serious concerns about her husband’s health and mental well-being as he enters his third year of captivity at age 72. 

 

We appreciate that the White House has called for the immediate release of Mr. Weinstein and that the Department of State is reportedly working with Pakistani authorities to secure his release.  However in light of the December 26 video, we urge you to redouble efforts, using the considerable national security resources of the U.S. Government, to find Mr. Weinstein and bring him home safely to his family. 

 

We ask that you please provide us with regular updates on your Administration’s efforts to secure the release of Mr. Weinstein.  We also request that you provide Mrs. Weinstein with a dedicated contact at the Department of State in order to better facilitate communication about her husband’s status.  It is important that the resources of the U.S. Government are made available to support Mr. Weinstein’s release and that his family is kept apprised of any developments.

 

We look forward to working with you to bring Mr. Weinstein home safely to his family as soon as possible.

 

Sincerely,

 

Barbara A. Mikulski

United States Senator

 

Benjamin L. Cardin

United States Senator

 

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