Appearing on MSNBC's Jose Diaz-Balart on Thursday, former talk show host and retired Marine Montel Williams scolded the Obama administration for not taking action to free Marine Sergeant Andrew Tahmooressi, held in a Mexican prison for six months on a trumped up weapons charge: "...what I found out was extremely disturbing....Jill Tahmooressi has had a son in prison for six months who is ill. No one from the White House has reached out to her to say, 'We're going to do something.' The State Department hasn't even called her directly to say, 'We're going to do something.'"
Williams, who testified on behalf of Tahmooressi at a congressional hearing on Wednesday, pointed out the President's hypocrisy on the issue: "Remember, when [Sergeant Bowe] Bergdahl was let out, the President said he did so because he was in imminent risk of medical danger. Sergeant Tahmooressi's in the same position. The President should do the same thing. And not trade anybody, just make the call to the president of Mexico." [Listen to the audio]
In the interview that preceded the remarks from Williams, Diaz-Balart – an advocate for illegal immigration – blamed Tahmooressi for accidentally making a wrong turn into Mexico back in March: "I mean, whether he made a mistake or not, he did violate a foreign country's local laws, right?"
Williams responded by highlighting Tahmooressi being diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder:
Without a doubt, Jose. But here's the truth – and we respect the laws of Mexico – but just like when Mexican people illegally enter the United States of America, if you get here and you're arrested and you go into prison or jail, if they notice you have diabetes, if you have any illness, we treat your illness. The Mexican government, which is an ally of ours, is incapable of treating combat PTSD. They've already stated that. So why, if they can't do so, allow him to come home to be treated?
Diaz-Balart followed up by again laying blame on Tahmooressi: "Montel, do you know why someone with PTSD who clearly is suffering from some issues had weapons in his car, legal registered weapons. But what's someone with PTSD driving around with weapons in his car for?"
In part, Williams condemned the Veterans Administration for not providing adequate treatment to Tahmooressi:
...we have right now, oh, I'd say about 2 million retired soldiers who live in our society who probably are driving around – that may be an exaggeration of the number – who may have weapons that they have possession of legally, and because we're not even treating [PTSD]....But just like so many other soldiers who have come back, this is the failure of our VA system. So let's just look at it. Failure, failure, failure, for those who put their lives on the line for us, and enough is enough.
Williams also appeared on MSNBC's All In With Chris Hayes on Wednesday night to discuss the topic. Hayes sneered that Tahmooressi's imprisonment was "a kind of cause celebre in conservative media."
The NBC broadcast network has yet to cover Tahmooressi's plight.
Here is a full transcript of the October 2 exchange between Williams and Diaz-Balart:
10:52 AM ET
JOSE DIAZ-BALART: Two big developments in a story we've been following. An American Marine veteran detained in Mexico for the past six month. The mother of Sergeant Andrew Tahmooressi testified at a House subcommittee hearing yesterday, saying her son tried to kill himself after threats of rape, torture, and execution while in custody.
Meanwhile, White House press secretary Josh Earnest says the State Department is focused on the case. Some critics say that doesn't go far enough. Sergeant Tahmooressi has been in a Tecate, Mexico prison since the 31st of March after crossing the border with guns in his truck, legally [sic] guns registered in the United States. Joining me now, Montel Williams, who testified at the House hearing yesterday. Montel, good to see you again.
MONTEL WILLIAMS: Good to see you, too, sir.DIAZ-BALART: Montel, you're a 22-year veteran of the U.S. Navy Marine Corps and you became quite emotional at this hearing. What did you tell these House members?
WILLIAMS: Well, I think it's important that the House members understand that we have a ill Marine who is being held in custody in an ally's prison and because of a mistake. And it's now been clearly demonstrated through the entire court system and Mexican court process that this has been a mistake. And so for us to sit back now and not be willing to do anything it takes to get this young man home, who is in such dire need of not just treatment for his combat PTSD but now he's going to need treatment for prison PTSD.
DIAZ-BALART: Montel, I mean, whether he made a mistake or not, he did violate a foreign country's local laws, right?
WILLIAMS: Without a doubt, Jose. But here's the truth – and we respect the laws of Mexico – but just like when Mexican people illegally enter the United States of America, if you get here and you're arrested and you go into prison or jail, if they notice you have diabetes, if you have any illness, we treat your illness. The Mexican government, which is an ally of ours, is incapable of treating combat PTSD. They've already stated that. So why, if they can't do so, allow him to come home to be treated?
DIAZ-BALART: Montel, do you know why someone with PTSD who clearly is suffering from some issues had weapons in his car, legal registered weapons. But what's someone with PTSD driving around with weapons in his car for?
WILLIAMS: Well, you know, when you think about that, I'm so sorry to say this, Jose, but you know, we have right now, oh, I'd say about 2 million retired soldiers who live in our society who probably are driving around – that may be an exaggeration of the number – who may have weapons that they have possession of legally, and because we're not even treating it.
Remember, Sergeant Tahmooressi was diagnosed by the United States Government with PTSD about four days before he was arrested. He saw a doctor that day. He's been re-diagnosed as having PTSD by the Mexican government. It's been reconfirmed that he probably has traumatic brain injury. But just like so many other soldiers who have come back, this is the failure of our VA system. So let's just look at it. Failure, failure, failure, for those who put their lives on the line for us, and enough is enough.
DIAZ-BALART: And Montel, you and I have spoken about this. You said that the President was doing something to deal with this. What do you think we need to do in the future?WILLIAMS: Well, you know, I thought he was. But we don't know. And part of when – at the hearing yesterday what I found out was extremely disturbing. Is here is Jill Tahmooressi. And Jill Tahmooressi has had a son in prison for six months who is ill. No one from the White House has reached out to her to say, "We're going to do something." The State Department hasn't even called her directly to say, "We're going to do something." Yet remember, and I'm not going to get into the political argument about this, the political argument about this. Remember, when Bergdahl was let out, the President said he did so because he was in imminent risk of medical danger. Sergeant Tahmooressi's in the same position. The President should do the same thing. And not trade anybody, just make the call to the president of Mexico.
DIAZ-BALART: Montel Williams, always a pleasure to see you. Thanks for your time.
WILLIAMS: Pleasure to see you, too, sir.
