U.S. Sought Russia's Help to Free Journalist Austin Tice in Trump's First Term, Ex-Envoy Says

TL;DR

U.S. officials requested Russia's help to free journalist Austin Tice during Trump's first term.
Robert O'Brien, then a hostage negotiator, asked Russian national security adviser Nikolai Patrushev to use his influence with Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad.
Numerous other attempts were made involving individuals and entities such as Sean Penn, the Vatican, the King of Jordan, and various Gulf states.
A risky trip to Syria was undertaken by U.S. officials Kash Patel and Roger Carstens, but they were unable to secure Tice's release.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had concerns about the risks involved in direct engagement with the Assad regime.
The CIA's assessment in 2024 shifted to a low-confidence indication that Tice was likely dead.
The Trump administration recovered 55 Americans from 24 countries without concessions during its term.

Continue reading the original article