{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/casey-urges-state-department-to-redouble-efforts-to-secure-release-of-journalist-jason-rezaian", "Casey Urges State Department to Redouble Efforts to Secure Release of Journalist Jason Rezaian", "2014-12-19", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Bob Casey", "C001070", "www.casey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC- Today, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), a member of the National Security Working Group and former Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South and Central Asian Affairs, urged the State Department to redouble its efforts to secure the release of jailed journalist Jason Rezaian. Rezaian was arrested by Iranian authorities in July and has remained detained for over 137 days. Casey, in a letter to Secretary of State John Kerry, called Rezaian\u2019s detention an affront to due process and urged the Administration to work to secure his release. \u00a0This year Senator Casey helped lead a Senate effort to pass a resolution to highlight the importance of press freedom and has previously weighed in with the State Department to urge the Administration to work to secure Rezaian\u2019s release.\r\nCasey wrote, \u201cI respectfully request that you redouble your efforts to secure Rezaian\u2019s release and prioritize his case in your discussions with Iranian officials.\u00a0 Iran\u2019s treatment of Rezaian is not only an affront to due process, but to journalists around the world working in difficult environments. \u201c\r\nThe full text of Casey\u2019s letter can be seen below:\r\nThe Honorable John Kerry\r\nSecretary\r\nU.S. Department of State\r\n2201 C Street NW\r\nWashington, DC 20520\r\nDear Secretary Kerry:\r\nI wrote to you over the summer regarding Jason Rezaian, an Iranian-American journalist who was arrested in Tehran with his wife and two others in July.\u00a0 I write to you again with deep concern that the Iranian regime continues to detain Rezaian.\r\nAccording to his family, Rezaian has now been detained for more than 137 days, which I understand is the longest period of time that Iran has held a foreign journalist.\u00a0 Human Rights Watch (HRW) found that Iranian prosecutors \u201chave not allowed the lawyer hired by Rezaian\u2019s family to defend him, to speak with him, or to review his case file.\u201d He is reportedly being held in solitary confinement within the notorious Evin prison, in a section patrolled by Iran\u2019s Revolutionary Guards. We know that the terrible conditions in Evin can take a significant toll on detainees\u2019 health and well-being.\r\nI welcomed your recent statement, in which you expressed the United States\u2019 disappointment and concern regarding Rezaian\u2019s mistreatment at the hands of the Iranian regime.\u00a0 I am particularly concerned that the Iranians are refusing to permit the Swiss, which represent U.S. interests in Tehran, to gain consular access to Rezaian to ensure that he has legal representation and proper medical care.\u00a0 As you stated, Rezaian does not in any way pose a threat to Tehran, which makes the regime\u2019s refusal to grant him bail that much more offensive.\r\nI respectfully request that you redouble your efforts to secure Rezaian\u2019s release and prioritize his case in your discussions with Iranian officials.\u00a0 Iran\u2019s treatment of Rezaian is not only an affront to due process, but to journalists around the world working in difficult environments.\u00a0 As noted in my resolution on global press freedom, S. Res. 447, which passed the U.S. Senate this summer, Iran is one of the most prolific jailers of journalists globally.\u00a0\u00a0\r\nRezaian\u2019s reporting for the Washington Post has been helpful to many in shedding light on one of the most repressive governments in the world.\u00a0 I ask you to unequivocally reject any efforts by the Iranian regime to use him as a pawn in other negotiations and insist that the Iranian regime does not continue to unjustly punish him for his reporting.\r\nSincerely,\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\r\nRobert P. Casey, Jr.\r\nUnited States Senator\r\n###\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\tPress Contact\r\n\t\t\t\t\tJohn Rizzo 202-228-6367", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/casey-urges-state-department-to-redouble-efforts-to-secure-release-of-journalist-jason-rezaian"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.3806619681417942, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}