Hillary Clinton said Tuesday that the Mexican imprisonment of Marine Sgt. Andrew Tahmooressi is “unacceptable,” and that the Obama administration may need to “raise the decibels a little bit more” to ensure his release.
“I can tell you what I would be doing,” she said during an interview with Fox News’ Greta Van Susteren. “Burning up the telephone wires, sending envoys, not just our ambassador but others coming in, talking to the highest level Mexican officials, making it clear that this is really important to us.”
Sgt. Tahmooressi, 25, said he took a wrong turn while heading to dinner on March 31 and wound up at a border crossing point in Tijuana. The veteran said he told Mexican authorities upfront about the three guns inside his truck and that he was lost, but he was taken to prison anyway on weapons charges. He’s been detained ever since, and pressure has been mounting for President Obama to step up efforts to secure the veteran’s release.
Mrs. Clinton said Tuesday that she assumes the State Department is doing everything it can to help Sgt. Tahmooressi, but “maybe we need to raise the decibels a little bit more,” Fox News reported.
“When this kind of action happens, and somebody who as you say made an accidental turn, who is serving our country, ends up in a prison, that is just unacceptable,” she said.
• Jessica Chasmar can be reached at jchasmar@washingtontimes.com.
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