Rochester, N.Y. (WHAM) — After nearly 900 days in captivity, Ryan Corbett has been freed by the Taliban in a prisoner exchange. The Dansville native was detaine
All of WNY from 7 p.m. Tuesday through 11 a.m. Wednesday.Wind chill values may drop as low as -20 during this period.Ryan Corbett is seen on a plane upon being released by the Taliban, Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025.
Rochester, N.Y. — After nearly 900 days in captivity, Ryan Corbett has been freed by the Taliban in a prisoner exchange. The Dansville native was detained in 2022 while in Afghanistan for business.Corbett's family released a statement Tuesday expressing their relief, saying they are "overwhelmed with joy." They extended their gratitude to several individuals, including Ryan Fayhee, a Washington, D.C.-based attorney., has represented several victims of unlawful detention, such as Paul Whelan, Paul Rusesabagin and Corbett. He spoke with 13WHAM Tuesday following the news of Corbett's release. "This one was particularly challenging, and I think ultimately, really was successful because of the strength of Ryan's wife, Anna, and their children, and being amazing advocates," Fayhee said.The deal came as former President Joe Biden handed power over to President Donald Trump. Corbett's family thanked both for their efforts, along with other government officials."The government has an outstanding process and program to welcome Americans back home down near San Antonio, Texas, at the Brooks Army Medical Center," he said. The Corbett family expressed hope that the two other Americans still detained in Afghanistan will be released soon. Fayhee emphasized the need for measures to deter hostage diplomacy. "It's been relied upon by Russia, by the Taliban in Afghanistan, and by others, as a means of conducting foreign policy," Fayhee said. "It's now the Trump administration's charge to find a way to deter this conduct, so more American families don't have to go through what Anna and her family has."After 894 long days, Ryan Corbett is finally being reunited with his family. These past nearly 900 days have been incredibly challenging for the Corbett family, yet the resilience and strength demonstrated by Anna, Ketsia, Miriam, and Caleb have been nothing short of inspiring. It has been our privilege to advocate for the Corbett family in Congress. We are especially glad that, through our efforts, the Corbett’s were able to meet with National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and other members of the Trump administration even before President Trump was sworn into office. We extend our deepest gratitude to President Trump, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, and the incoming Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, Adam Boehler, for their dedication to bringing Ryan home. Today is a momentous day for our community and our nation, and we are thrilled that Ryan will finally be back where he belongs—at home with his family.This morning, I have some amazingly great news: after more than two years of being unjustly detained by the Taliban, Ryan Corbett, from Dansville, New York, is finally free, and is on his way home. In just a few hours, praise God, Ryan will be back on American soil, and will be able to hug his wife, Anna, and his beautiful children, Miriam and Caleb and Ketsie. They represent the very best of upstate New York: hardworking, God-fearing, persistent, and humble. Soon, Ryan will be back home in Western New York, in the community he loves so much and that has waited desperately for his return. I met with the Corbett family repeatedly. Every time I met with them, his wonderful wife, Anna – strong but quiet – never gave up. And his beautiful children, who so miss their dad, – you could just feel it. And every time I met with them, my heart went out and I said I have to do more and more and more. It's a moment we have all prayed for and hoped for. And thank God this day has finally come.When I heard Ryan's story from his family and listened to them as they pushed and pushed for his defense, I saw that even in the darkest moments, even when hope seemed lost, the Corbett family never, never gave up. And they never got angry. They never pointed fingers and called names. They just kept persisting and persisting and persisting. And their beautiful, hard, unrelenting, patient persistence has paid off. I worked very closely with the Corbett family to build bipartisan support for Ryan’s release. We brought attention to his imprisonment, and made dozens of calls to elevate his case to the very highest levels of government. I want to thank President Biden and his administration’s negotiating team, as well as my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, for helping bring Ryan back. We can finally – finally – say these five amazing words: Ryan Corbett is coming home. He is coming home to New York. He’s coming home to Dansville. I can’t wait to see him and to welcome him back very, very soon.I am incredibly grateful that Ryan Corbett has been freed and is set to be reunited with his family and friends. For years, I have been working with the Biden administration, Leader Schumer, and Ryan’s wife, Anna, to help secure Ryan’s safe passage back home. I want to thank everyone involved with this effort for their unwavering and tireless work. I wish Ryan and his family all the best as they move forward. I will continue to work to secure the release of George Glezmann, Mahmood Habibi, and all other Americans wrongfully detained across the world.Today, our hearts are filled with overwhelming gratitude and praise to God for sustaining Ryan’s life and bringing him back home after what has been the most challenging and uncertain 894 days of our lives. We are profoundly grateful to President Trump, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, and incoming Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs Adam Boehler for their efforts, even before taking office, to help bring Ryan home. We also thank President Biden, former Secretary of State Blinken, former Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs Roger Carstens and his extraordinary team, including Jacob Hernandez, for their tireless work and steadfast dedication to bringing Ryan back to us. We are also grateful to former members of the National Security Council, including former National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, Jennifer Daskal, Joshua Geltzer, David Cotter, and Chandler Yonge. The countless hours of negotiations, unwavering support, and determination demonstrated by all involved have not gone unnoticed, and we will forever hold this kindness in our hearts. We want to extend our deepest thanks to His Highness the Amir and the Government of Qatar for their vital role in facilitating Ryan’s release, and for their visits to Ryan as the United States’s Protecting Power in Afghanistan. Your efforts as mediators, your compassion, and your commitment to diplomacy have given our family the most precious gift imaginable: Ryan’s freedom. To our many champions on the Hill, including our Congresswoman Claudia Tenney; our Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand; Former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell; Speaker of the House Mike Johnson; former House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Michael McCaul and Ranking Member Gregory Meeks; Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chair James Risch and former Chair Senator Ben Cardin; Senator Chris Coons; Congressman Morgan McGarvey; and Congressman Dan Meuser: you never gave up on Ryan or our family and are a testament to what we can achieve when we work together across party lines. To the team that has been by our side – Hansel Lee; Erin Pelton from Foretell; Ryan Fayhee, Ryan Anderson, Blair Campion, and John Babcock from Akin Gump; and Kate Gibson of Doughty Street Chambers, among them – we would not be reunited with Ryan were it not for the counsel, support and countless hours you have invested in getting us to this day. We are also grateful for the amazing support from Hostage US and the Foley Foundation, both of which are tireless advocates for families facing unfathomable crises. To our friends, neighbors, and everyone who prayed for Ryan’s safe return, called your Member of Congress, or fueled our advocacy in countless other ways, your support has carried us through the darkest moments. You reminded us that hope endures, even in the face of despair. To the many journalists who used their platforms to shed light on Ryan’s plight, your efforts were instrumental in keeping his story alive and improving the conditions of his captivity, and we deeply appreciate the vital role you played in bringing us to this moment. While we begin the healing process with Ryan by our side, we remain mindful of the many families who are still waiting for their loved ones to return, including the families of George Glezmann and Mahmoud Habibi. It was our hope that Ryan, George and Mahmoud would be returned to their families together, and we cannot imagine the pain that our good fortune will bring them. We recognize the immense privilege of our family’s reunion today, and pledge to keep praying – and fighting – for George and Mahmoud’s swift release.
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