Marine Sgt. Andrew Tahmooressi Freed From Mexican Jail

Sgt. Andrew Tahmooressi was released after 214 days in a Mexican prison, thanks in large part to the extensive coverage by Fox News host Greta Van Susteren. Tahmooressi crossed the U.S.-Mexico border Friday night, boarding a private jet for Florida shortly after 9 PM. The released came just hours after a strong diplomatic push convinced a judge to release the former Marine based on humanitarian grounds.

Tahmooressi, 25, a two-tour veteran of Weston, Florida, who spent Memorial Day weekend in a Mexican prison, had claimed he made a mistake the night he crossed into Tijuana with three weapons in his truck on March 31. However, it wasn’t until Van Susteren drove the poorly-marked and confusing route Tahmooressi took that night did his story gain credibility and national attention. Still, for the most part, national media outlets ignored Sgt. Tahmooressi’s prolonged imprisonment, as well as the physical and emotional abuse he suffered during that time.

Even though the defense rested its case several weeks ago, and the court psychiatrist recommended to the court Tahmooressi be released and treated in the U.S., the release still came only after a strong diplomatic push from former Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico and House Reps. Ed Royce (R-CA) and Matt Salmon (R-AZ).

The three officials, along with Tahmooressi’s mother Jill, who Van Susteren repeatedly interviewed, spent the last week in Tijuana pressing officials for his release. Gov. Richardson said on the phone last night that they and talk show host Montel Williams, himself a former Marine, met with Mexico’s Attorney General and Ambassador to the US, advocating for his liberation.

Montel recently testified at a Congressional hearing in September, which was critical of Obama administration efforts — or, the lack of them — to free the Marine and Mexico’s refusal to let him go.

“He was happy. He was smiling. He’s looking good. His spirits are high,” Richardson told Fox News, adding that Tahmooressi said he wants a steak dinner and stone crabs.

Gov. Richardson also said Tahmooressi is requesting privacy and, as his mother has argued for months, still needs to receive treatment for his Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. His disorder didn’t only go without treatment in the Mexican prison, but exacerbated, an argument successfully made by his defense attorney Fernando Benitez.

Benitez said that Tahmooressi was continuing to deteriorate and Mexico didn’t have the expertise or facilities to treat his PTSD, which he suffered after two tours in Afghanistan.

The defense attorney also alleged that customs agents held Tahmooerssi illegally, denying him access to a translator, lawyer and consular access. Despite the corruption and irregularities, it was the PTSD argument that ultimately pushed the judge to acquit Tahmooressi.