Freeholder 'Incensed' U.S. Not Doing Enough for Marine in Mexican Prison

The Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders may not agree on all topics, but there’s one they’ve banded together on.

Morris County’s governing body has adopted a resolution urging President Barack Obama and the United States government to “do everything in their power to gain the release of an American Marine reservist being held in a Mexican prison.

That Marine, Sgt. Andrew Tahmooressi, who served two tours of duty in Afghanistan, was arrested on March 31 this year when he accidentally crossed the Mexican border from California with three legally owned firearms in his vehicle.

At the time, Tahmooressi, was undergoing treatment in San Diego for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Tahmooressi was charged with weapons trafficking and has stated that during the initial stages of his Mexican incarceration the abuse he incurred and poor prison conditions led him to attempt suicide.

“The freeholders are urging the president to utilize the full powers and authorities of his office to immediately secure Sergeant Tahmooressi’s immediate release from Mexican custody to the United States so he can receive the appropriate medical assistance for his medical condition,” said Freeholder Director Tom Mastrangelo in a statement. “Time is of the essence.”

“I am incensed that our government is not doing enough to secure the immediate release of Sgt. Tahmooressi,” said Mastrengelo in the statement.

The resolution calls for a delegation of Congressional and State Department officials along with the Red Cross to meet with the Marine to assess his “physical and emotional well-being.”

If Tahmooressi’s immediate release does not occur, Mastrengelo said the U.S. should impose economic sanctions on Mexico. Morris County’s freeholders have also asked each county and municipality in the state to adopt the same resolution.