Mel Gibson gives thanks for release of US man held by China

Actor Mel Gibson applauded U.S. officials on Wednesday for securing the release of American Mark Swidan, who has been detained in China since 2012. 

“He was wrongfully detained there for a crime he did not commit and spent over a decade in prison in horrible conditions and his release was procured,” Gibson said in a self-recorded video. 

“And I want to thank these people, particularly by the members of the Texas Congress, in particular Ted Cruz. I also want to thank his lawyer, who was tirelessly employed in getting this man free, Jason Poblete, and of course, Elizabeth Vargas, who reported this story several times, and Alison Weiner,” he added.

Swidan was freed alongside Kai Li and John Leung in a prisoner swap with Beijing. 

“Soon they will return and be reunited with their families for the first time in many years,” a National Security Council spokesperson said in a statement.

“Thanks to this Administration’s efforts and diplomacy with the PRC, all of the wrongfully detained Americans in the PRC are home,” the spokesperson said, referring to the People's Republic of China (PRC).  

The Biden administration’s efforts to bring home Americans detained abroad comes after a letter from the Congressional Executive Commission on China urging the president to prioritize the release of Americans being held captive in the country.