Anna Corbett
Appearances
Morning Wire
Gulf Coast Blizzard Warning & Ryan Corbett Returns Home | Afternoon Update | 1.21.25
He's lost a lot of weight. This is having a bad effect on his health, obviously. He's only 41 and having constant headaches, ringing in his ears, fainting, discolored extremities. I mean, he's told me that I wouldn't recognize him. And our communication was very sparse for a long time now.
Morning Wire
Held Prisoner in Afghanistan: A Family’s Fight for Freedom | 1.18.25
It was the first time and I had been asking for an in-person meeting for a long time. And that was also disappointing just to have a phone call with no video with him.
Morning Wire
Held Prisoner in Afghanistan: A Family’s Fight for Freedom | 1.18.25
I don't know. I am honestly very confused because I have raised a lot of attention and advocated very hard for Ryan, taken 16 trips to D.C., worked in a very bipartisan way, helped pass a House and a Senate resolution. And I'm surprised that more progress wasn't made during this administration period.
Morning Wire
Held Prisoner in Afghanistan: A Family’s Fight for Freedom | 1.18.25
and wonder, is there fear because it's Afghanistan, because of the withdrawal that happened and how it happened? I don't know, but it's very frustrating from where I sit because, as you know, I took a trip down to Florida to West Palm Beach and am working on advocating with the incoming administration. And it's taking a lot of effort from our family.
Morning Wire
Held Prisoner in Afghanistan: A Family’s Fight for Freedom | 1.18.25
This past weekend, I flew down to Florida with my oldest daughter, Katia, and put in requests to meet with President Trump. Unsure of what the outcome of the trip would be, but wanting to do my part in raising awareness for Ryan. And... I was incredibly encouraged to meet with my congresswoman. She was down in Florida and gave me a lot of time and support.
Morning Wire
Held Prisoner in Afghanistan: A Family’s Fight for Freedom | 1.18.25
And also to see that President Trump sent his incoming national security advisor to me just within 48 hours of being down in Florida. And he gave us over an hour of his time. I had to... beg and work so hard to have a meeting with the current National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan, and it took 16 months to meet with him.
Morning Wire
Held Prisoner in Afghanistan: A Family’s Fight for Freedom | 1.18.25
Ryan has been held now by the Taliban since August 10th of 2022, almost two and a half years now, very close to 900 days. I hate saying because we have felt every hour of those 900 days.
Morning Wire
Held Prisoner in Afghanistan: A Family’s Fight for Freedom | 1.18.25
and he has been held in bad conditions recently was moved and so his conditions improved a little bit he is receiving better food but he's lost a lot of weight this is having a bad effect on his health obviously he's only 41 and having constant headaches ringing in his ears fainting discolored extremities I mean he's told me that I wouldn't recognize him and I'm
Morning Wire
Held Prisoner in Afghanistan: A Family’s Fight for Freedom | 1.18.25
Our communication was very sparse for a long time now. It's been about every two weeks, which helps, but it's my husband of almost 21 years, and I don't know where he is. I never know when I'll hear from him. I'm super grateful, I have to say. The Qataris have really helped set up the phone calls and make sure they happen every two weeks and even recently worked on lengthening them.
Morning Wire
Held Prisoner in Afghanistan: A Family’s Fight for Freedom | 1.18.25
But it's a terrible situation,
Morning Wire
Held Prisoner in Afghanistan: A Family’s Fight for Freedom | 1.18.25
I keep highlighting like he's a dad he wants to see his kids grow up he he missed his daughter's high school graduation she was voted prom queen he missed that he couldn't walk her out for homecoming court he can't watch his son play basketball he's never watched his son play basketball and these are opportunities that every dad wants to have and needs to have with his kids and I
Morning Wire
Held Prisoner in Afghanistan: A Family’s Fight for Freedom | 1.18.25
It's just devastating what is going on here that he cannot be part of that.
Morning Wire
Held Prisoner in Afghanistan: A Family’s Fight for Freedom | 1.18.25
We lived in Afghanistan as a family. I know that's unusual. But we lived there for almost 12 years. And he had started a business in Kabul. And when we had to evacuate as a family when the Taliban took over, he did not want to leave his staff behind. He didn't want to abandon what was going and making a difference in the Afghan people's lives. And so he kept his business open from a distance.
Morning Wire
Held Prisoner in Afghanistan: A Family’s Fight for Freedom | 1.18.25
We moved back here to New York. And he took one trip in January 2022, no problems, renewed his visa smoothly, was given a warm welcome. And then on the second trip in August 2022, he was detained and has been held since. So he was trying to help the Afghan people. There have been no accusations, no charges against him. And he was designated as wrongfully detained by our government.
Morning Wire
Held Prisoner in Afghanistan: A Family’s Fight for Freedom | 1.18.25
Your listeners can continue praying for Ryan and our family that we will continue hoping and staying strong each day. Also, we have a website, freeryancorvett.com, with a lot of information. And now that... This current administration is almost finished.
Morning Wire
Held Prisoner in Afghanistan: A Family’s Fight for Freedom | 1.18.25
We're needing to focus on the incoming administration, and we will have information on the website on how to do that and how people can get the word out that this is going on and it's completely unjust. I believe every family out there can empathize with what we're going through, that when one family member is going through a horrible situation, we all feel it constantly.
Morning Wire
Held Prisoner in Afghanistan: A Family’s Fight for Freedom | 1.18.25
And until Ryan's home, we cannot rest. And even enjoy the opportunities we have in our freedom here in the States because Ryan's still being held and has only access to sunlight a couple times a day and has no choices and is missing so much in his family's life.
Morning Wire
Held Prisoner in Afghanistan: A Family’s Fight for Freedom | 1.18.25
I would say to him, please remember Ryan and please do everything you can to bring Ryan home. And I would ask the incoming administration, including incoming National Security Advisor Mike Waltz that I've spoken with and others involved in roles to bring Ryan home to prioritize our family. Also, George is held with Ryan. He's in the same cell.
Morning Wire
Held Prisoner in Afghanistan: A Family’s Fight for Freedom | 1.18.25
Same situation, wrongfully detained, and his family needs him as well. So there are U.S. citizens that are alive. There's proof of life. We just spoke to Ryan on Sunday, and they need to come home.
Morning Wire
Held Prisoner in Afghanistan: A Family’s Fight for Freedom | 1.18.25
Thank you for having me. I appreciate this opportunity.
Morning Wire
Held Prisoner in Afghanistan: A Family’s Fight for Freedom | 1.18.25
Thank you very much.
Morning Wire
Held Prisoner in Afghanistan: A Family’s Fight for Freedom | 1.18.25
It was a difficult call. I had just received a call from Ryan in the morning. I was traveling. There was a lot in my head and a lot of hope going into that call. And although he was and sympathetic to our family and obviously tracking the situation, hearing from him that he did not seem to be bringing Ryan home and taking a deal on the table was devastating and obviously very disappointing.