Ted Cruz has been criticized by the father of Trevor Reed, the American marine who was imprisoned for three years in Russia on what he claimed were bogus charges. In a campaign advertisement produced by Democratic Representative Colin Allred, who is hoping to unseat Cruz in November, Joey Reed alleged the Texas Senator “didn’t lift a finger” during his son’s imprisonment.
Joey Reed endorsed Allred in the minute-long video, stating the congressman “was right there working with both parties to bring our son home.”
In 2019, Trevor Reed was arrested in Moscow after allegedly attacking a number of police officers who picked him up when drunk, with prosecutors claiming at one point he caused the police vehicle he was in to swerve wildly. Trevor Reed pled not guilty to the charges against him but was convicted and sentenced to nine years in prison. In April 2022, he was released in a prisoner exchange for Konstantin Yaroshenko, a Russian pilot who had been serving a 20-year sentence in the U.S. after being convicted of cocaine smuggling.
In the campaign ad, Joey Reed said: “When my son Trevor Reed was detained by the Russian police, he was given nine years. We were frantic, we tried to stay focused and not just break down every day crying.
“The first politician we called was Ted Cruz. They basically said we’re not going to be able to help you. Ted Cruz didn’t lift a finger for us when everybody else in the state did.”
Joey Reed went on to praise Allred for his work towards freeing his son, which included co-sponsoring a House of Representatives resolution demanding his “immediate release.”
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He said: “Colin Allred was right there working with both parties to bring our son home. The thing I like about Colin is he listens, he can relate to almost everyone, he’s willing to reach across the aisle. Our resolutions in the House of Representatives had co-sponsors from both parties nationwide.
“The one person missing from everything was Ted Cruz. Senator Cruz refused to help us when everyone else in the government was. Elected officials, they’re accountable not only for their actions but for their inactions. Ted Cruz is not here for Texas, Ted Cruz is here for Ted Cruz.”
In a statement provided to Newsweek, Cruz spokesperson Macarena Martinez said: “Senator Cruz was incredibly relieved for Trevor and his family when he was released from wrongful detention in Russia and safely returned home.
“Senator Cruz has been a leader throughout his Senate career in fighting for the return of unjustly held Americans. He has been instrumental in bringing home American hostages from Lebanon and Venezuela, and is fighting daily to secure the release of Mark Swidan from China.”
Newsweek also contacted Rep. Allred’s 2024 Senate election campaign for comment via email.
During Trevor Reed’s imprisonment, his family contested the charges against him, questioning why there was no video of him causing the police officer to swerve and alleging inconsistencies in the Russian officers’ reports.
Following Trevor Reed’s release, President Biden said: “Today, we welcome home Trevor Reed and celebrate his return to the family that missed him dearly. Trevor, a former U.S. Marine, is free from Russian detention. I heard in the voices of Trevor’s parents how much they’ve worried about his health and missed his presence. And I was delighted to be able to share with them the good news about Trevor’s freedom.”
After his release, Trevor Reed travelled to Ukraine as a volunteer and in 2023 was wounded fighting against Russian soldiers in the country, after which he was taken to Germany for treatment.
