Held Prisoner in Afghanistan: A Family’s Fight for Freedom | 1.18.25

Summary

Morning Wire Podcast Summary: "Held Prisoner in Afghanistan: A Family’s Fight for Freedom"

Release Date: January 18, 2025
Host: John Bickley & Georgia Howe
Guests: Anna Corbett
Episode Duration: Approximately 10 minutes

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Introduction

In this poignant episode of Morning Wire, hosted by John Bickley and Georgia Howe, the Corbett family's harrowing struggle unfolds as they advocate for the release of Ryan Corbett, an American businessman wrongfully detained by the Taliban in Afghanistan. Presented against the backdrop of dwindling trust in mainstream media, this episode offers a raw and unfiltered look into personal sacrifice, governmental inaction, and the pursuit of justice.

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Ryan Corbett’s Capture and Imprisonment

Anna Corbett opens the discussion by detailing her husband Ryan’s detainment. Since August 10, 2022, Ryan has been held by the Taliban for nearly two and a half years, enduring harsh conditions that have severely impacted his health and well-being.

Anna Corbett [04:30]: "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... He is receiving better food, but he's lost a lot of weight. This is having a bad effect on his health, obviously."

Despite recent improvements in his conditions, Ryan continues to suffer from significant health issues, including weight loss, constant headaches, and discolored extremities. Communication with Ryan has been sporadic, now occurring every two weeks, thanks to the efforts of intermediaries known as the Kataris.

Anna Corbett [04:30]: "He's never watched his son play basketball. And these are opportunities that every dad wants to have and needs to have with his kids. And it's just devastating what is going on here that he cannot be part of that again."

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Advocacy Efforts and Interaction with the Biden Administration

Anna Corbett has tirelessly worked to raise awareness for Ryan's plight, undertaking 16 trips to Washington, D.C., and fostering bipartisan support to pass House and Senate resolutions advocating for his release. Her relentless efforts culminated in a phone conversation with President Biden, which she describes as both hopeful and devastating.

Anna Corbett [01:13]: "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."

Anna expressed her frustration over the lack of substantial action from the Biden administration despite her extensive advocacy.

Anna Corbett [02:09]: "I'm surprised that more progress wasn't made during this administration. And wonder is there fear because it's Afghanistan because of the withdrawal that happened and how it happened, I don't know."

She also highlighted the challenges faced in securing meaningful engagement with Biden's national security advisors, contrasting it with the responsiveness of the incoming Trump administration.

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Incoming Trump Administration’s Response

Anna's advocacy took a hopeful turn when she engaged with the incoming Trump administration. During a trip to Florida with her daughter, she received immediate attention from President Trump's incoming National Security Advisor, Mike Waltz.

Anna Corbett [03:12]: "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."

In stark contrast, her attempts to engage with the current Biden administration's National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan, took 16 months, underscoring a significant delay in response and action.

Anna Corbett [03:12]: "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."

This disparity has fueled Anna's belief that the incoming Trump administration may be more proactive in addressing the unjust detention of American citizens like Ryan Corbett and George Held.

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Circumstances Leading to Ryan Corbett's Detainment

The Corbett family's life in Afghanistan spanned over a decade, where Ryan established and managed a business that positively impacted the local community. During the 2021 Taliban takeover, the family evacuated, leaving behind their business and staff. Determined not to abandon his efforts, Ryan continued to manage his enterprise remotely from New York.

However, in August 2022, during a second trip to Afghanistan, Ryan was detained by the Taliban without any accusations or formal charges, classifying his detention as wrongful as per U.S. government statements.

Anna Corbett [06:25]: "There have been no accusations, no charges against him, and he was designated as wrongfully detained by our government."

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Impact on the Corbett Family and Urgency for Action

The prolonged detention has taken a severe toll on the Corbett family, emotionally and psychologically. Ryan's absence has deprived him of witnessing significant moments in his children’s lives, such as graduations and sports events, deepening the family's anguish.

Anna emphasizes the urgent need for action and community support, urging listeners to contribute through prayer and advocacy.

Anna Corbett [07:36]: "Your listeners can continue praying for Ryan and our family... We will have information on the website on how to do that and how people can get the word out that this is going on and it's completely unjust."

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Call to Action and Message to Donald Trump

As the Trump administration prepares to take office, Anna Corbett directs a heartfelt plea to Donald Trump, urging him to prioritize the release of Ryan and George Held.

Anna Corbett [08:55]: "I would say to him, please remember Ryan and please do everything you can to bring Ryan home."

She underscores the importance of swift and decisive action to rectify the injustices faced by American citizens detained abroad, highlighting the government's recognition of wrongful detention yet the apparent inaction.

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Conclusion

The Corbett family's struggle, as shared in this episode of Morning Wire, underscores the broader issues of governmental responsibility, international diplomacy, and the human cost of geopolitical conflicts. Anna Corbett's relentless advocacy serves as a testament to the enduring hope and resilience of families separated by unjust circumstances. As the incoming Trump administration holds the promise of renewed efforts, the Corbett family's plea echoes the urgent need for compassionate and effective intervention.

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For More Information and Support: Visit freeryancorbett.com to learn how you can aid in the pursuit of Ryan Corbett's freedom and support the Corbett family during this challenging time.

Transcript

[Anna Corbett]

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.

[John Bickley]

In this episode, we sit down with Ryan's wife Anna to discuss his unlawful detainment by 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.

[Anna Corbett]

Thank you for having me. I appreciate this opportunity.

[John Bickley]

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?

[Anna Corbett]

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 kind 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.

[John Bickley]

Was this the first time that you had talked to President Biden?

[Anna Corbett]

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.

[John Bickley]

It's very frustrating. What's keeping the president from taking this deal?

[Anna Corbett]

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. 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.

[John Bickley]

Yeah, I'm sure. What has been the tone from the incoming administration, the Trump administration?

[Anna Corbett]

This past weekend I flew down to Florida with my oldest daughter Ketsia, 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.

[John Bickley]

So Trump's national Security adviser, Mike Waltz, came to talk to you in person within just a couple of days. But Biden's advisor delayed 16 months. I can 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?

[Anna Corbett]

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, which 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 our communication was very sparse for a long time. Now it's been about every two weeks, which helps. But it's my husband of almost 21 years, and I don't know where he is. I never know when I'll hear from him. I'm super grateful. I have to say. The Kataris have really helped set up the phone calls and make sure they happen every two weeks and even recently worked on lengthening them. But it's a terrible situation. And I keep highlighting like, he's a dad. He wants to see his kids grow up. He. He missed his daughter's high school graduation. She was voted prom queen. He missed that. He couldn't walk her out for homecoming court. He can't watch his son play basketball. He's never watched his son play basketball. And these are opportunities that every dad wants to have and needs to have with his kids. And it's just devastating what is going on here that he cannot be part of that again.

[John Bickley]

I can't imagine. For those not familiar with your story, what led to your husband's capture. How did this all get started?

[Anna Corbett]

We lived in Afghanistan as a family. I know that's unusual, but we lived there for almost 12 years. And he had started a business in Kabul. And when we had to evacuate as a family when the Taliban took over, he did not want to leave his staff behind. He didn't want to abandon what was going and making a difference in the Afghan people's lives. And so he kept his business open from a distance. We moved back here to New York, and he took one trip in January 2022, no problems, renewed his visa smoothly, was given a warm welcome. And then on the second trip in August 2022, he was detained and has been held since. So he was trying to help the Afghan people. There have been no accusations, no charges against him, and he was designated as wrongfully detained by our government.

[John Bickley]

All right, so the government officially states that he's wrongfully detained, yet has not taken the action to get him back. What steps are you taking now? What ways can people help in this situation? Is there anything our listeners can do?

[Anna Corbett]

Your listeners can continue praying for Ryan and our family, that we will continue hoping and staying strong each day. Also, we have a website, freeryancorbett.com with a lot of information. And now that this current administration is almost finished, we're needing to focus on the incoming administration, and we will have information on the website on how to do that and how people can get the word out that this is going on and it's completely unjust. I believe every family out there can empathize with what we're going through, that when one family member is going through a horrible situation, we all feel it constantly. And until Ryan's home, we cannot rest and even enjoy the opportunities we have in our freedom here in the States because Ryan's still being held and has only access to sunlight a couple times a day and has no choices and is missing so much in his family's life.

[John Bickley]

If you could deliver a direct message to Donald Trump as he's set to return to the White House this week, what would that be?

[Anna Corbett]

I would say to him, please remember Ryan and please do everything you can to bring Ryan home. And I would ask the incoming administration, including incoming National Security Advisor Mike Waltz that I've spoken with and others involved in roles to bring Ryan home, to prioritize our family. Also, George Held with Ryan. He's in the same cell, same situation, wrongfully detained, and his family needs him as well. So there are US Citizens that are alive. There's proof of life. We just spoke to Ryan on Sunday and they need to come home.

[John Bickley]

Well, our prayers are certainly with your husband, Ryan and with George Glazeman. In your talk with Trump's national security advisor, Mike Waltz is definitely encouraging. Anne, thank you so much for talking with us.

[Anna Corbett]

Thank you very much.

[John Bickley]

That was Ann Corbett, wife of Ryan Corbett. And this has been a special edition of Morning Wire.