Sen Patty Murray under fire after constituent claims his calls for help went unanswered
A top Democrat refuted claims that she ignored correspondence from a constituent whose son was abducted by Venezuela’s military while she was advocating for Salvadoran deportee Kilmar Abrego Garcia. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., who was third in line to the presidency until Republicans retook the Senate, responded to the allegations through a spokesperson on Monday. The spokesperson stated that they have no record of correspondence from Scott St. Clair asking for help for his imprisoned son, Joseph St. Clair.
“Our office has no record of an inquiry from the St. Clair family; however, our staff is ready and willing to help support the return of Joseph however possible,” the Murray spokesperson said, following comments from Scott St. Clair to radio host Jason Rantz, where he claimed he received no response from Murray.
Joseph St. Clair, a four-tour Afghanistan War veteran from Hansville, Washington, first went missing in November while receiving PTSD treatment in Colombia. In February, his father received a call from the Colombian consulate informing him that the Venezuelan regime had taken his son hostage.
Regarding her advocacy for Abrego Garcia, Murray’s office emphasized her commitment to protecting due process in America and condemning the Trump administration’s efforts to undermine the rule of law. Murray retweeted Sen. Chris Van Hollen’s photo with Abrego Garcia in El Salvador, expressing solidarity with him.
Critics, including radio host Jason Rantz, lambasted Murray for allegedly ignoring the St. Clair family’s pleas for help while advocating for Abrego Garcia. Rantz and others questioned the senator’s priorities and called for her to address the situation faced by an American veteran held captive in Venezuela.
Scott St. Clair shared screenshots of his attempts to contact Murray and other lawmakers for assistance in securing his son’s release. While he received some response from Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., he ultimately turned to Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., for support. The St. Clair family expressed disappointment in the lack of advocacy from their own state’s representatives.
“We need all the help we can get. Congress needs to demand that Maduro release our citizens held hostage as political pawns,” Scott St. Clair wrote in one message to Murray. Joseph’s mother, Patty, echoed the sentiment, stating that they have not received support from their state’s representatives.
As the situation continues to unfold, the St. Clair family remains hopeful for the safe return of Joseph and appreciative of the assistance they have received from lawmakers in other states. The case highlights the complexities of international relations and the importance of diplomatic efforts to secure the release of American citizens held captive abroad.
