PBS News Hour

In a high-profile prisoner to night after the U.S. freed a top ally of# Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

Six## of the Americans were judged wrongfully# detained by the U.S. State Department.

AMNA NAWAZ: As part of the deal, the Maduro# government also agreed to free 20 Venezuelan## political prisoners and a fugitive defense# contractor, Leonard Francis, will be returned## to the United States.

He fled before sentencing in# a massive bribery scandal involving the U.S. Navy.

President Biden, returning to the White# House tonight, took questions on the swap.

QUESTION: (AUDIO GAP) Venezuela?

Why# is it OK for the U.S. to be negotiating## with the Maduro government, sending back# people the Justice Department (OFF-MIKE) JOE BIDEN, President of the United States:# It's OK because we're freeing Am people who are held illegally.

And we# made a deal with Venezuela that they## will hold free elections.

So far, they have# maintained their requirements.

And that's it.

AMNA NAWAZ: For more on the# significance of this deal,## we turn now to Jonathan Franks.

He's# an e has worked on the successful release of# several other Americans detained overseas.

Jon, welcome back.

It's good to see you.

You represent one of the families of Wright.

What can you tell us about the timing,# about why he and the others were released today?

JONATHAN FRANKS, Founder, Lucid# Strategies: Thanks for having me.

I'm not sure exactly why t I imagine just the negotiations came to# a conclusion.

But this is obviou great day both for my clients in that Savoi is# back and also for our whole hostage community.

I mean, I think we lost four or five families# today out of Bring Our Families Home Campaign,## and I'm really excited about that,# because that means there's four more,## five more families that have been made whole.

AMNA NAWAZ: What else can you tell us ab of those negotiations?

W right?

He was the most recently detained# American, but the others for much longer.

What can you tell us about what happened# to those negotiations over time?

JONATHAN FRANKS: I -- honestly, I'm not# privy to it.

I mean, I have got to give## the administration credit.

They have done# an amazing job.

This is a I think that they -- those who say that this was# a tough decision to send Mr. Saab home don't know## much about what Mr. Saab is accused of or the# collateral damage that that prosecution caused.

So, a 10-for-1 deal, 10 Americans# for one, plus 20 Venezuelan souls,## is a heck of a deal.

The president had a moral# obligation, and I'm proud of him for doing it.

AMNA NAWAZ: So what about that businessman,# Alex Saab?

I'm sure you have seen there are## some folks criticizing the deal.

This is# a man who was awaiting trial in Miami on federal money laundering charges, right?

He's a# supporter and an ally of the Maduro government.

There are those that say this exchange# incentivizes foreign governments,## especially adversarial ones, to take# more Americans' hostage because it## means they can free their allies and# friends.

What do you say to JO NATHAN FRANKS: It's a complex situation.# There's no actual evidence that that is true,## that it incentivizes more hostage-taking.

But, obviously, I concede that it logically# ri ght, is Mr. Saab was a white-collar criminal.# He's a Colombian national that allegedly stole## from Venezuelans, right?

He was arrested# in the Cape Verde, and we extradited him.

There were real-world consequences# to that decision on hostages being## held in Venezuela.

It turned the Maduro# regime into the leading collector in world of American hostages.

So I think# there's a -- it's a double-edged sword,## right?

In a sense, we incentivized a lot# of hostage-taking by taking Mr. Saab.

And, no, I don't think that bringing Americans# home today incentivizes more hostage-taking.

AMNA NAWAZ: What about Leonard Francis?

We# know he's more widely known by his nickname## Fat Leonard.

He's behind a $35 million bribery# scheme.

It's the largest corruption scandal## in U.S. military history.

As part of this deal,# Venezuela is returning him to the United States.

What does that part of this# negotiation tell you about the deal?

JONATHAN FRANKS: I think there was# a desire to clear the decks, right?

And Mr. Francis, or Fat Leonard, as he goes,## needs to face justice for what he's done.

And# it's my understanding he's already convicted.

So,## he needs to face responsibility.

So,# I think it's another positive to this## deal and a piece of it that perhaps the# administration isn't getting AM NA NAWAZ: Finally, we mentioned earlier, six# of the Americans freed, including your client,## Savoi, were deemed wrongfully detained# by the U.S. government.

That means four## of the other Americans who were freed# were not deemed wrongfully detained.

What should people understand# about that?

Does that mean## that their detention in Venezuela was justified?

JONATHAN FRANKS: I think it doesn't# necessarily.

Just the -- the process## to be designated wrongfully detained is difficult.

And in countries like Venezuela, the# government often prohibi from getting copies of court documents.# And it is really hard to provide the kind## of documentary evidence that is necessary to# qualify for designation under the Levinson## Act when the person holding your loved one# refuses to provide you even one document.

We didn't even have a charging# document in Savoi's case.

AMNA NAWAZ: What else can you tell us about# how Savoi is doing today o JONATHAN FRANKS: The last# time I talked to his family,## they hadn't heard from him yet,# but they are incredibl It has been a difficult several# months.

And when I entered this case,## this family was being actively extorted# for a very healthy five-figure sum.

And## there -- just nobody was there to help# them.

So I very much enjoyed getting## to know his family.

I can't wait to meet# Savoi.

He sounds like a fascinating guy.

And I think, if he's guilty of anything,# it's falling in love with Venezuela.

AMNA NAWAZ: It's a good day for# that family and many others.

Jon Franks, thanks for speaking# to us toni prisoner swap between the U.S. and# Venezuela.

I appreciate your time.

JONATHAN FRANKS: Thanks for having me.