Washington D.C. – The Citizen, August 11, 2024
Ryan Corbett was in Afghanistan to train staff when he was detained by the Taliban.
It was Aug. 10, 2022. Two years later, Corbett isn’t home. The western New York native has spent the last 730 days in a cold basement cell. His health is deteriorating according to his wife, Anna, who spoke with The Citizen on Thursday.
“His extremities are now discolored,” she said. “He has to hold himself to stand up. He has constant ringing in his ears. He has trouble getting up and down. Obviously mentally, it’s really getting difficult for him to keep hope. He doesn’t see light at the end of the tunnel.”
Anna Corbett has been her husband’s chief advocate. She recently returned from her 13th trip to Washington, D.C., for briefings and meetings. She is encouraged by the support she has received from New York’s congressional delegation, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and U.S. Rep. Claudia Tenney.
But Corbett is frustrated with the Biden administration for not prioritizing Ryan’s case, especially as his condition declines and family members worry he may not have a lot of time left.
Despite her efforts to raise awareness about Ryan’s plight, Corbett has not met with President Joe Biden or National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan — meetings she believes are critical to ensuring that Ryan’s return is a priority. She has requested meetings in emails, but her requests go unanswered.
The two-year mark of Ryan’s detainment follows a successful diplomatic push to bring Americans home from Russia. U.S. officials secured the release of notable detainees, including Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and Marine Corps veteran Paul Whelan.
