WASHINGTON _ Eight senators are asking the White House to continue efforts to bring home missing journalist Austin Tice, who disappeared while reporting in Syria more than six years ago.
The Trump administration appointed an envoy for hostage affairs, Robert C. O'Brien, who has been working on the case, and President Donald Trump has spoken directly with Tice's family about the efforts to bring him back.
A letter signed by Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz on Tuesday _ along with two other Republicans and four Democrats _ urges the White House to "pursue every possible avenue" to release Tice, who "we believe has been held captive in Syria for six years."
State Department officials believe Tice, a Houston native who was freelancing for McClatchy and other media outlets at the time of his disappearance, is alive. Cornyn, the Senate's second-ranking Republican, last year met with the Czech Republic ambassador to Syria, Eva Filipi, to receive updates on Tice's status.
Cornyn and Cruz's letter urged Trump, O'Brien, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and national security adviser John Bolton to "personally ensure" that the U.S. "redoubles its efforts" to finding Tice, who was "working to ensure that the world understood the tragic situation in Syria."
In April, the FBI announced it would pay a $1 million reward for information leading to Tice's safe return.
Also signing the letter were Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, both Alaska Republicans; Dick Durbin, D-Ill.; Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii; Patrick Leahy D-Vt.; and Chris Van Hollen D-Md.
