Marine veterans Allen Brown and Terry Sharpe did not get the results they were looking for when they finished their 300-mile trek to Washington D.C.
The goal of the journey was to persuade President Obama to free Marine Sgt. Andrew Tahmooressi, who is currently being held in a Mexican prison on gun charges, according to Western Journalism. The two veterans decided not to wait for another new thing to happen in Tahmooressi's case, and began their walk from their respective homes in North Carolina and Virginia to D.C. last month.
The journey to Washington was the first time the two veterans met each other. Brown said he saw Sharpe walking and, after learning that he was walking to the White House for a fellow Marine's freedom, decided to join him.
Brown and Sharpe arrived in Washington last month, but did not get a chance to speak to Obama personally. They were reported to have not only been dismissed by the President, but to have received no acknowledgement from anyone in the White House, according to Western Journalism.
However, the vets were still determined to get their message out, speaking about their journey in front of a crowd near the White House. Sharpe recited a letter he wrote to Obama about his disappointment in his administration not taking action to get Tahmooressi out of jail, saying that they could persuade Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto to return him to the U.S. with "one phone call."
Sharpe and Brown received support from many who believe Obama could help Tahmooressi get his freedom, such as former Marine Brendan Strum, Western Journalism reported.
"I think the president can make that happen with one telephone call and I will do whatever I can do to help encourage him to make that call," Strum said.
Despite not being able to speak to a member of the Obama administration personally, Brown and Sharpe reportedly managed to talk to a representative at the Mexican embassy. The representative promised them that their concerns would be heard by Mexican authorities.
"This is the end of my and Allen's journey here, but not the end of my quest to free Sgt. Tahmooressi," Sharpe said.
UPDATE 6:00 p.m. : Tahmooressi to be Released from Mexican Jail!
Lawmakers from the House Foreign Affairs Committee have announced that Tahmooressi will see his release soon!
The "humanitarian release will be provided for the Marine thanks to Committee Chairman Rep. Ed Royce, who talked to Mexican government officials to ensure Tahmooressi's freedom," The Political Insider reported.
"Last week I had a good and productive conversation with the Mexican Attorney General and am confident that a humanitarian release of Andrew will occur very soon so he can start getting better," Royce said.
Arizona Rep. Matt Salmon said that the Attorney General told him that Tahmooressi will be released if proof is provided about him having PTSD.
Salmon has been working with Royce on Tahmooressi's release, and has also criticized the Obama administration for not working hard enough to ensure the Marine's freedom, The Political Insider reported.
Tahmooressi's medical file and expert testimony have been sent to Mexican authorities, according to Salmon, and his medical conditions are expected to grant him his release and return him to his family.
