Rev. Jesse Jackson will introduce to Congress two Americans whose release he negotiated from a Gambian prison.
“We hope this is the beginning of gaining freedom for all wrongly accused prisoners and relieving tensions in the country,” Jackson told POLITICO after arriving in Washington D.C. on Thursday. “It’s a change in course, and we’re glad two Americans have been pardoned.”
Earlier this week, Jackson met with President Yahya Jammeh for five hours to discuss the release of Navy veteran Tamsir Jasseh and former University of Tennessee professor Amadou Janneh who were scheduled for execution, according to the POLITICO report.
Jasseh was found guilty of a plot to overthrow the president and Jannah was arrested for printing T-shirts critical of Jammeh, according to the report.
The two prisoners said they were not aware of Jackson's efforts towards their release, the report said.
"I hadn't expected it," Jasseh told POLITICO after his release. "I’m taken off guard and I am very grateful to Rev. Jackson.”
