Venezuela releases American hostage after two years

For two years, Josh Holt was called a spy, a terrorist, a murderer and a mercenary by Venezuelan authorities, who held him without charge in a notorious jail for political prisoners. Now he can call himself free.

The 26-year-old from Utah flew home Saturday after getting released, thanks to the efforts of US Sen. Bob Corker, who pressed for his freedom in a surprise meeting with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro — after spending months in back-channel talks with the authoritarian socialist.

Holt jetted home aboard a chartered flight from Caracas with his wife, Thamara “Thamy” Caleño, a Venezuelan missionary who also was imprisoned for two years.

First stop? The White House for a meeting with President Trump.

“Good news about the release of the American hostage from Venezuela,” Trump tweeted Saturday.

Venezuelan Communications Minister Jorge Rodriguez said the couple was freed as part of efforts to maintain “respectful diplomatic relations” with Washington.

Holt, of Riverton, Utah, a suburb of Salt Lake City, met Caleño on a Mormon Web site while searching for someone with whom he could practice Spanish.

He fell for Caleño and bonded with her daughters, then met her in person on a trip to the Dominican Republic. In June 2016 he traveled to Caracas so the two could marry. They settled into her apartment to await visas so the family could move to the United States.

A week later, they were swept up in a police raid at their apartment complex. Witnesses said cops dragged the couple out, then planted a plastic bag with an AK-47 and a grenade in their apartment.

They were held at a prison known as The Helix, where Maduro’s secret police have detained dozens of his opponents.

With Wires