Held Prisoner in Afghanistan: A Family’s Fight for Freedom | 1.18.25
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American businessman Ryan Corbett moved his family to Afghanistan in 2010, where he started a business and became active in the community. But the Corbett family later evacuated during the 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal, leaving everything behind. Upon returning to his business in 2022, Ryan Corbett and several others were captured by the Taliban. Two years later, he remains a prisoner.
In this episode, we sit down with Ryan's wife, Anna, to discuss his unlawful detainment by the Taliban and how the Biden administration and incoming Trump administration are handling it. I'm Daily Wire Editor-in-Chief John Bickley with Georgia Howe. It's Saturday, January 18th, and this is a special edition of Morning Wire. Joining us now to discuss her husband, Ryan Corbett's ongoing unlawful detention by the Taliban is Anna Corbett. Anna, thank you so much for coming on.
Thank you for having me. I appreciate this opportunity.
So since your husband, Ryan, was captured, you've been really working to raise awareness and advocate for his release that recently led you to talking on the phone with President Biden himself. First, how did that call go?
It was a difficult call. I had just received a call from Ryan in the morning. I was traveling. There was a lot in my head and a lot of hope going into that call. And although he was and sympathetic to our family and obviously tracking the situation, hearing from him that he did not seem to be bringing Ryan home and taking a deal on the table was devastating and obviously very disappointing.
Was this the first time that you had talked to President Biden personally?
It was the first time and I had been asking for an in-person meeting for a long time. And that was also disappointing just to have a phone call with no video with him.
It's very frustrating. What's keeping the president from taking this deal?
I don't know. I am honestly very confused because I have raised a lot of attention and advocated very hard for Ryan, taken 16 trips to D.C., worked in a very bipartisan way, helped pass a House and a Senate resolution. And I'm surprised that more progress wasn't made during this administration period. and wonder, is there fear because it's Afghanistan, because of the withdrawal that happened and how it happened? I don't know, but it's very frustrating from where I sit because, as you know, I took a trip down to Florida to West Palm Beach and am working on advocating with the incoming administration. And it's taking a lot of effort from our family.
Yeah, I'm sure. What has been the tone from the incoming administration, the Trump administration?
This past weekend, I flew down to Florida with my oldest daughter, Katia, and put in requests to meet with President Trump. Unsure of what the outcome of the trip would be, but wanting to do my part in raising awareness for Ryan. And... I was incredibly encouraged to meet with my congresswoman. She was down in Florida and gave me a lot of time and support. And also to see that President Trump sent his incoming national security advisor to me just within 48 hours of being down in Florida. And he gave us over an hour of his time. I had to... beg and work so hard to have a meeting with the current National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan, and it took 16 months to meet with him.
So Trump's National Security Advisor, Mike Waltz, came to talk to you in person within just a couple of days, but Biden's advisor delayed 16 months. I can't imagine the frustration there. Can you tell us about your husband's situation? How long has he been there? What are the conditions? How's he doing?
Ryan has been held now by the Taliban since August 10th of 2022, almost two and a half years now, very close to 900 days. I hate saying because we have felt every hour of those 900 days. and he has been held in bad conditions recently was moved and so his conditions improved a little bit he is receiving better food but he's lost a lot of weight this is having a bad effect on his health obviously he's only 41 and having constant headaches ringing in his ears fainting discolored extremities I mean he's told me that I wouldn't recognize him and I'm
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