Family of detained journalist Austin Tice criticizes lack of effort to secure release

The parents and siblings of imprisoned journalist Austin Tice appealed for stronger efforts to end his 12 years in captivity at a Friday, Dec. 6, press conference held at the National Press Club.

The event followed a morning meeting at the White House with senior diplomatic and national security staff at the Tice family said no new information was forthcoming and that they left dismayed.

“One of the things [White House National Security Adviser] Jake Sullivan said was, ‘We’ve tried everything,’" said  Mike Tice, Austin’s father. “Well I take exception to that. ...Very little has actually been done.” Austin’s sister Megan called what she said was the lack of effort by President Joe Biden “extremely disheartening.”

Club President Emily Wilkins criticized Biden for what she called a  “half-ass” effort to help Tice, especially disappointing given the release in August of Evan Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal reporter, and Alsu Kurmasheva, a journalist for Radio Free Europe.

“There is still time to get this done,” Wilkins said.

The press conference, whch took place days before the upheaval in Syria raised new hopes of Tice's release. featured 17 of his family members, the first time they have all been together in Washington. And it was also a kickoff of the NPC Press Freedom Center and a reminder of the mystery that surrounds Tice’s disappearance.

Tice, who grew up in Houston, became a freelance journalist and went to Syria in May 2012 while he was enrolled at Georgetown Law School. In August of that year, Tice was in Damascus when he was taken into captivity at a military checkpoint by unknown individuals. In the years since, almost nothing has been said or revealed about the circumstances of Tice’s captivity and in fact some people have speculated that he is dead -- a possibility his family flatly rejects.

Tice is also is a former U.S. Marine Corps captain, and his capitivity has drawn the attention of military groups as well as First Amendment and media organizations.

In August, Biden issued a statement about Tice, saying: “This week marks 12 long, terrible years since American Austin Tice was abducted in Syria. We have repeatedly pressed the government of Syria to work with us so that we can, at last, bring Austin home ….The freedom of the press is essential, and journalists like Austin play a critical role informing the public and holding those in power accountable.”

Because it has dragged on for so long, Tice’s case has drawn involvement from not just the Biden administration but also President Barack Obama and former President Donald Trump. While nothing tangible happened during Trump’s first administration to secure Tice's release, his mother said she thinks that may change in Trump’s second term.

Debra Tice, who began the press conference, said that when Trump was in office, he had “an obsession” with getting Austin Tice released. She said the case was “already on his mind. He’s already ready to go get him home.” 

Tice wrote for The Washington Post, the McClatchy newspapers, and other outlets.