U.S. aids in case of kidnapped relative of Texas congressman
EL PASO, Texas (AP) - U.S. authorities are helping investigate the apparent weekend kidnapping and release of a relative of U.S. Rep. Silvestre Reyes in Mexico.
A female relative of Reyes' was kidnapped June 19 in Ciudad Juarez, a crime-ridden city across the Rio Grande from El Paso, a federal law enforcement official said Wednesday. The woman, a Mexican citizen, was released after an approximately $30,000 ransom was paid by a relative in Mexico to the kidnapper, the official said, and Reyes' relative was released with another victim.
The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the case is active, did not have details about the second victim.
Another family member was in contact with the kidnapper and agreed to pay the ransom, the official said. It is unclear if the kidnapper knew that the woman was related to Reyes, an El Paso Democrat, when she was taken.
The official said the family of the victim called Reyes' office, which notified the proper authorities. Reyes, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, was not informed of the kidnapping until several hours later, according to the official.
Vincent Perez, a spokesman for Reyes' office in Washington, would not comment on the case Wednesday.
ICE officials in El Paso said in a brief statement Tuesday that the agency worked with Mexican authorities to "help secure the release of a victim who was kidnapped in Ciudad Juarez."
ICE spokeswoman Leticia Zamarripa said Wednesday the agency would have no further comment.
Reyes has been an ardent supporter of U.S. aid to Mexico to help fight an increasingly bloody turf battle among the country's power drug cartels.
Kidnappings and murders have become somewhat commonplace in Juarez and elsewhere in Mexico as the cartels continue to battle for lucrative trade routes and try to fend off Mexican federal efforts to shut them down.
More than 500 people have been killed in Juarez so far this year, including 20 in less than three days earlier this week.
