Scott Calls On Kerry To Help Weston Marine Jailed In Mexico
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Governor Rick Scott has sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry requesting help from the Department of State to release a marine, from Weston, jailed in Mexico for almost three months.
Sergeant Andrew Tahmooressi has been held in a Mexican jail, facing three fire arm charges since March 31st.
Tahmooressi, 25, served two tours of duty in Afghanistan and suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression. He had moved to San Diego for treatment.
Tahmooressi, according to his mother, was driving to meet up with a friend when he made a wrong turn and ended up crossing the border, with all his belongings, including legally purchased U.S. guns, in his pick-up.
In the letter, dated June 27th, Scott "respectfully" requests that Kerry "personally engage the Mexican government and use the resources of the Department of State to intervene on Andrew's behalf to resovle this matter quickly so that he can return home."
Scott calls the Department of State's "inaction" on Tahmooressi's behalf, "unsettling."
Also in the letter, Scott mentions the jailed marine's mother, Jill Tahmooressi, who has been vocal since her son's arrest, organizing rallies in an effort to release her son.
Scott's letter reads that Jill Tahmooressi has, "expressed frustration on the lack of support she's received from your colleagues in the Administration during this difficult time. Reports also indicate that Andrew's morale continues to diminish the longer he languishes in the Mexican prison."
"He has been at the hands of gang members who tried to kill him and he had to survive a tortuous, severe beating," said Jill Tahmooressi said during a protest in Miami held on Saturday, May 31st.
READ: Locals Rally For Release Of Jailed Marine From Weston
Scott ends the letter thanking Kerry, saying he will wait for him to take "actions on behalf of Andrew's well-being and safe return."
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