Levinson Family: We Feel ‘Betrayed and Devastated’ by Obama and John Kerry

RUSH TRANSCRIPT:

KING: “President Obama vows the U.S. will work very hard to free Levinson after Iran released five other Americans this weekend. Levinson disappeared over eight years ago in Iran. He was working as a consultant for the CIA. Levinson is the longest held American hostage ever. His family said we are happy for the other families, but once again, Bob Levinson has been left behind. His wife Christine and their son, Daniel, are with us for the first interview since the prisoner deal with Iran was announced over the weekend. I know this is a very difficult day so we thank you for joining us this morning. I’m wondering if you were caught off guard by the prisoner release and what you were told in your first thoughts when you were told Bob Levinson was not among them.”
C. LEVINSON: “We were not told in advance. I actually had to turn on the TV to find out what was going on, which was really disappointing. And I felt very betrayed and devastated that I hadn’t even received a phone call to l me know this was happening because we had been promised that when the other people were released, bob would be with them. And he was not.”
ROSE: “You felt betrayed by?”
C. LEVINSON: “By the United States government.”
ROSE: “By the president and secretary of state?”
C. LEVINSON: “Yes.”
NAIR: “Who was the promise from? And have they given you any reason why bob was not one of the prisoners?”
C. LEVINSON: “They have not given us a reason why. In the state department in all our meetings, everyone has always said to us that they would get bob out. Because of course he was still there after the three hikers were released as well.”
KING: “Daniel —“
ROSE: “Do you know whether they asked for his release in this negotiation?”
C. LEVINSON: “What I believe is they asked for their help to find him in order to get him home.”
ROSE: “Because the Iranian says they don’t know where he is?
C. LEVINSON: “Right.”
KING: “So what contact have you had with the government since yesterday? have you been in contact with anyone?”
C. LEVINSON: “I talked to Mark Guiliano and Lisa.”
ROSE: “What did Lisa tell you?”
C. LEVINSON: “They did tell me that they were hoping to get in touch with me before it happened but they had not been able to.”
NAIR: “Well, Dan, it’s been since 2011 since you guys have seen photos.”
D. LEVINSON: “That’s correct.”
NAIR: “I hate to even ask this question but are you nervous that he’s not alive anymore?”
D. LEVINSON: “Obviously there are — it’s been a long time. He’s been over there nine years now and he was never in good health at the onset. We obviously believe he’s alive. The government has told us there is no credible evidence to suggest that he is not alive. Of course we’re going to go forward and not give up and do everything possible because we still believe he’s alive. We’re not going to stop until we hear otherwise.”
ROSE: “But is there credible evidence that he is being held by the Iranians?”
D. LEVINSON: “Well, two weeks after his disappearance, Iranian state —“
ROSE: “Ten years ago?”
D. LEVINSON: “Yes, 2007 in April. Iranian state-run media had reported that he was in the hands — I’m quoting verbatim — in the hands of Iranian security forces and would be, quote, freed in a matter of days and this has been almost nine years now, which is absolutely ridiculous. We believe the Iranians know where he is, they know exactly what happened to him. We went to Iran in December of 2007 and we retraced his steps. That airport on Kish Island where he disappeared, very tiny. The trip from his hotel was five minutes. Everybody knows exactly on that island what’s going on.”
ROSE: “What do you think the Iranians’ reason is for saying they don’t know where he is, if in fact they know where he is and what is their reason for not giving him up if they have him in custody?”
D. LEVINSON: “Well look, on both sides, on our side of the government, on the Iranian side, there were mistakes made. The Iranian — we don’t know who was overzealous and decided that my dad would be a good person to pick up, but I think there were mistakes made and it’s really hard for them to walk back from what happened, especially after this long. So that’s worrying to us.”
ROSE: “Thank you so much.”
NAIR: “We hope we meet next time under better circumstances.”