Former FBI agent Robert Levinson was not part of the prisoner exchange that the Obama administration reached with Iran Saturday, and his family says they feel "betrayed" by the fact that no one at the White House even told them about the agreement.
The family members only found out when they saw the news reported on television.
"I thought after nine years that they would have enough respect for our family to at least tell us in advance that this is happening," Levinson’s wife, Christine, said in an
interview with ABC News.
"It could have been five minutes, but to find out on the TV for the whole family… was wrong. It was absolutely devastating."
"I’m very disappointed. I feel extremely betrayed by them," Mrs. Levinson told the network.
The family released a statement Saturday when the deal was announced, saying "[w]e are happy for the other families,"
CBS's Miami affiliate reported. "But once again Bob Levinson has been left behind. We are devastated."
President Barack Obama personally called family members of those released in the exchange,
Reuters reports.
"Your father is the American left behind," ABC reporter Brian Ross said to son Dan Levinson in an interview.
"Absolutely," he replied. "Who was serving his country, and his country hasn’t done its duty to get him home."
The family has not had contact with Levinson during the nine years he has been held, ABC reports, and the Iranian government claims no knowledge of his whereabouts.
"Mrs. Levinson, do you consider that Bob might, in fact, have died in captivity?" Ross asked wife Christine.
"No, I will never consider that until I have proof," she answered. "I believe every day he’s trying to come home to our family. We will never give up."
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