The mother of a U.S. Marine reservist jailed in Mexico since April 1 tells
Newsmax TV she's confident that her son's new lawyer "can defend him appropriately."
Jill Tahmooressi appeared on "America's Forum" to discuss 25-year-old Andrew Tahmooressi's plight "for literally making a wrong turn."
"Andrew is so despondent because it breaks my heart every night when I have to tell him that we have not heard from the White House yet and that is his commander in chief," she said. "It's very frustrating."
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Mexican police arrested Tahmooressi on the Mexican side of the border after the Marine sergeant entered the country with three guns — all legally purchased in the United States — and several hundred rounds of ammunition.
Tahmooressi has said he mistakenly ended up back in Mexico after making a wrong turn while returning from Tijuana.
Fox News Latino reported that the Afghanistan war veteran called 911 after missing the Interstate 5 exit to stay in the United States. He told the dispatcher that he ended up back in Mexico with three registered weapons. Possessing firearms is against the law in Mexico, even if purchased legally.
A
petition calling for Tahmooressi's release has received more than 127,000 signatures, 27,000 more than the required threshold for a White House response, according to Jill Tahmooressi, yet she says she has heard nothing but "absolute silence" from President Barack Obama, Secretary of State John Kerry or anyone else in the administration.
They have treated Andrew "like he was some kind of bother," she said.
Plenty of legislators, and countless Americans, have advocated on Tahmooressi's behalf, she said, something that has buoyed the family.
Jill Tahmooressi has hired a third lawyer after the first two, who were listed on the State Department's website, had no experience in criminal defense work. She says she has faith in the most recent lawyer who has "credible experience" and an excellent track record.
She asked Americans to visit
www.andrewfreedomfund.com to learn about the case and, if possible, make a financial contribution since her son's life savings has been depleted.
"This is grass-roots," she explained. "It's me, it's my family, and it's Andrew's Marine brothers."
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