Lawmaker wants Marine freed from Mexican jail

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He survived -- Iraq and Afghanistan wars only define himself now jailed in a Mexican prison in August former marine.

John hammer he decided take a vacation that took an unbelievable turn when he was jailed for possessing a registered weapon.

Since being taken into custody he's been the target of threats and extortion by dangerous cartel members looking to make a profit off of his incarceration.

Despite this difficult ordeal -- parents say he showing incredible strength.

-- get him a phone number of someone to call.

It -- because if he did something happens and we can't get their -- tickets hours to get there we had a -- made arrangements for some I pick him up and and he's -- eroded and my Bible and it's so you know they may not let you take anything out you know he made.

And he said that they're not taking back.

So he's opinion and he's he's.

Toss.

-- congresswoman Ileana Ross -- and has stepped in to help the hammer family bring John home and she joins me.

Live from Miami congressman thank you so much for getting -- so bright and early and -- I know this is top of mind for you because.

You've been working with the family they decided I interviewed his -- the other day it was her first interview I think nationally because.

She was scared and and she finally came to for help what.

What can you do you.

Well it's been a very tricky situation for the family as you pointed out that he's been incarcerated since August.

But what is really at technical nothing crime he tried to do the right thing he asked our US customs and Border Patrol agents.

Can I bring this firearm into Mexico he asked that when he was on the US side they said sure they photographed that they measured -- they waited.

They said fill out these forms turned it into the Mexican authorities and he was actually at.

They the Mexican authority office when he was jailed as he was trying to registers weapon.

And so the family has been low key they've been working through many of the Mexican attorneys that they hired down there.

To try to get their son's three and after months they see that they've gotten not no action so they decided to it to take this gamble and go public -- And a boy this story has really taken off we've contacted that the State Department they have our ambassador.

You name it for a President Obama Janet Napolitano we've reached out to everyone and thank you about what to our colleagues in congress.

Over thirty members have already got co sign letters.

Two in a while -- -- -- Clinton urging them to actively get involved to bring John home for Christmas.

This is -- because because congress and this isn't like the Taliban had him.

I mean this this is Mexico and I understand the drug cartels are in charge of the prisons there.

But it's Mexico don't we have good enough relations nearly came home.

You would think so especially now.

What is a brand new president that cut taking over and and -- we have buzz supposedly good relations with our neighbors.

They also always lecture us about how badly we treat illegal immigrants which is up.

A bunch of -- Bologna -- yet they have an American hero incarcerated.

And let me point out to your audience that he is actually.

-- to his bed I know this was was told to me by Mexican authorities.

Why because they have to take him out of of the general population after those of distortions and after the beatings so they have a minute and an area away from the general population.

But because that -- is not as secure they have to change this marine.

To his bed to make sure that he will not escape.

This is on believable that the Mexican government is not stepping in to help us while they take our money and take all the help we give them.

And it's incredible.

That our own the US government is not doing all that we can't.

To bring hammer home for Christmas.

The cut that family deserves this he's done nothing wrong read the cumbersome and it sounds like -- hurt frustrated with our own government.

In -- -- that correct.

-- that's right and I don't wanna be what Jeanne Kirkpatrick used to call the the blame America first crowd and of course it's the Mexican government's fault they are at fault.

But -- what the US government must do is to show some gumption than to say.

We're not just get gonna give you a status update on what is happening with John hammer we're -- actively.

Lobby on his -- for his release and get him at if they want to go through a trial that's fine.

Bond amount and let him be with his family the -- has suffered with posttraumatic stress -- that syndrome he has served in Iraq and in Afghanistan.

He's just got out of the clinic.

Up to deal with stress and now look -- how he finds himself.

It is so unfair and someone just so we're gonna keep on fighting we're gonna make this happen congresswoman.

Russ -- and thank you so much for your efforts and thanks for you up so early.

On a Friday have a fantastic weekend I appreciate -- you do.

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Lawmaker wants Marine freed from Mexican jail

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