Sen. Patty Murray Faces Backlash Over Alleged Inaction in Venezuelan Hostage Case

Senator Patty Murray is under fire after accusations surfaced that she ignored a desperate constituent whose son is being held hostage by Venezuela's military regime—while simultaneously championing the cause of a Salvadoran deportee, Kilmar Abrego Garcia.

Murray, a Washington Democrat and once third in line for the presidency, denied any knowledge of outreach from Scott St. Clair, whose son Joseph—a veteran of four Afghanistan tours—was seized by Venezuelan authorities back in November while undergoing PTSD treatment in Colombia. According to Murray's office, there's "no record" of any inquiry from the St. Clair family, but staff insists they're now ready to help bring Joseph home. The senator's team emphasized that constituent service is a "top priority." Better late than never, I guess?

Joseph St. Clair's abduction came to light in February when Colombian officials informed his father that Venezuela, under Nicolás Maduro's regime, had taken him hostage. While the St. Clair family struggled to get their pleas noticed, Murray's public advocacy focused on Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran national deported under the Trump administration. Murray argued fiercely for Garcia's right to due process, slamming what she describes as "immoral" and "illegal" deportation practices and vowing to fight for democracy and the rule of law.

Complicating things, radio host Jason Rantz and others on social media criticized Murray, pointing out the apparent contradiction of her championing a non-citizen’s cause while seemingly overlooking a local family in distress. Jonathan Choe, another Seattle commentator, summed up the confusion with a simple plea: "Make it make sense." A hostage aid group even republished part of Rantz’s critique, fueling the online outcry.

Scott St. Clair claimed he sent emails, web forms, and even Twitter direct messages to Murray, all without reply. In fact, screenshots surfaced showing his attempts to get her attention—including a "Bring Joe Home" graphic—while another Washington senator, Maria Cantwell, did respond, if only briefly. Ultimately, it was Missouri’s Sen. Eric Schmitt, a Republican, who intervened to help the family.

Joseph’s mother expressed frustration on national TV, lamenting the lack of support from their home state’s congressional delegation and thanking those from out-of-state who stepped up. Scott St. Clair echoed the sentiment, urging Congress to amplify their son's plight and reminding lawmakers that some issues are just too real—and too close to home—to be ignored.

As the St. Clair family continues their fight, Murray’s office says they're now reaching out directly. Whether this leads to real action remains to be seen, but one thing’s clear: you probably don’t want to be caught reading your email too late when your constituents are counting on you.