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Bill O'Reilly reacts to news that Corporal Jon Hammar will be getting out of a Mexican prison
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Hi everyone -- Laura Ingram for Bill O'Reilly and thanks for watching us tonight.
Just days before Christmas we begin with the best possible news.
27 year old corporal John hammer a former marine who has been locked up in a Mexican prison on -- trumped up charge since August.
Looking forward to spending Christmas as a free man.
A Mexican judge ordered his release this morning after the factor launched a campaign for justice.
-- was arrested in Matamoros Mexico for bringing an antique shotgun into the country.
But the charges boldness he was simply -- following directions by declaring the -- to Mexican authorities.
Bill O'Reilly who has been aggressively pursuing justice for this young marine.
Joins us now by telephone.
And bill this is great news I knew you would want to come on to discuss it given your role.
And making sure that everyone knew about this and that pressure was on what's your reaction.
Well I think it did this shows the power of the Fox News Channel not just the factor.
You know.
A lot of -- here -- thought that this story had to become front and center.
Greta did it Hannity me.
We did it in the day hours with McCallum and hammer.
And Megyn Kelly we all -- -- early basically said that this could not.
Stand.
This could not stand.
So I'm real proud of the network and and I want everybody to understand.
That that's what we're in business to do right.
We are going to look out for individual Americans and when bad things happen we're gonna try to correct them.
And bill what about your reaction to that rest of the media's coverage of all of this and the White House didn't really.
Want to talk much about this throughout.
But now obviously this goodness.
Well I think what we're gonna do and I think this is the fair way to handle it -- Is after the corporal gets back to Florida we're gonna do the political story and we're gonna find out what happened and why it happened.
Let's wait -- he gets back on American soil.
As far as immediate concern CNN it did a decent job.
The network news.
A little bit you know CBS morning was the best of them NBC didn't do much at all.
And the net and the newspapers didn't do a lot.
Because it's again it they were questions about Hillary Clinton questions about President Obama.
And they didn't wanna do what they did they -- Want to get into any thing that may have -- their guys look bad.
And I say to myself I don't care about the politics you know I want this guy out.
And all of the media should have joined together in pursuit of that.
And by contrast a lot of folks from our network and across political aisles were rooting for the NBC crew to be released in Syria and prayer chains and also it's a -- -- angle and not and his colleagues and they were released and all that was -- that was great.
I just think it's important at this type of pressure -- across the board and not not just by one network are certainly out one host.
And bill -- right now we have a factor exclusive joining us now on the phone is -- -- hammer.
She's corporal hammers -- mom and bill what would you like to say to mrs.
hammer.
Well first abroad I think that mr.
mrs.
-- very courageous they came on to the media at the no spin they answer the questions honestly.
And they help their own cause -- measurably because it you know I'm just the messenger.
And the message was delivered by the -- parents who obviously love him very much.
And you know you can't let your son or daughter rot in a Mexican prison they didn't they took action.
They tried to go through than normal circles and then they went to the media.
I wish you guys have done it earlier we would -- them out earlier.
But I'm glad you finally did it -- you and you told the truth to the American people responded.
So in this is -- just tell us win the first.
I understand a close last night on Thursday.
Or who called you and how did you know that this was in motion to get your son out today.
We've got a call -- Thursday night from the lawyers saying that he had gotten a call but it was pretty that's a done deal at that point and and we were sort of waiting to find out because it was a done deal that he -- how they were gonna rule but it wasn't necessarily.
We weren't sure about when he was going to be release.
-- alternative waiting -- -- that you hired the right exactly in Mexico City they and you have to pay this guy tens of thousands of dollars correct right okay so I mean -- everybody should know what this is a reason McCorkle was incarcerated in the first place was to get money.
From his family that's unfortunately.
What can play in some places.
So you learned last night that this was in motion and then all day today we've been dealing with the bureaucracy in Mexico right.
Right -- all right so right now your husband is down.
On the border waiting for your son to be brought across -- state -- four department officials exactly.
The conflict and it's gonna try him across.
And we don't know what time that's going to be though.
Now I mean he's he's been there for several hours then it's just at this point he got he did get a call from Johnny to -- that.
I'm being out prospect.
OK so the Mexican to finally doing the right thing the judge did the right -- you signed your worries that this was this case was bogus because it violated the Mexican constitution which it did.
Right the judge did the right thing.
And now we just have to wait but logistically -- crosses the border now a lot of people would say gee you -- -- fly him back but I understand that you're seven you and your husband are gonna drive back together.
You know I think they're gonna that's sort of the plan that my husband have that giant get -- dictate how that that.
-- -- -- we thought maybe he might need a couple of days to decompress just with some time when his dad interpret richer home but if you want to get on -- plane.
Which would be my preference I would love for him to jump on a plane immediately but -- -- that plays out.
And then I you probably just gonna relax for the next week or so writers strike and everybody just -- -- -- match we don't know what that feels like.
Right I mean people ought to know that as far as been going on since.
August and you know it's now hold late December -- I can imagine you know again and I said -- -- top of my remarks that anybody's son or daughter I mean apparently -- mobilize.
But all of this just is a cautionary tale for all Americans that when you leave this country go to any country got to be very careful.
I I thought the turning point in the case mrs.
Cameron was when you came on the factor.
Earlier this week and you you both basically laid it on the line not only about the crime being bogus but about our government not really -- -- to -- and then after that everything started to fall into place absolutely.
You know you guys that really -- it -- yeah without that I don't know that this split -- and certainly not in this time.
Right bid but.
Americans watching that show saw you and your husband on television and they rally to your cost -- There was thousands of calls made politicians all across the country and pressure was put on every area and all the sudden things turned around any -- it is now -- Unfortunate particularly against right so we're happy we could help and though we wish you in your has been in your son had a very marries -- Christmas is that it will be.
Thank you so much and I cannot tell you how much we appreciate that coverage.
It's particularly -- we really believe.
Well that's what -- -- here to do and we're happy to do it and Merry Christmas to you mr.
YouTube Egypt.
Galore a you know -- you said -- -- your remarks at least we have a happy ending to a story and will pick it up.
After January 2.
Well let everybody know what happen perhaps will be able to talk to the corporal himself.
Fantastic bill and mrs.
hammer thank you so much.
We -- needed some good --
