Former Defense Officials Back Latest Push to Free Amir Hekmati

Four top former American defense and security official are backing the latest push to have Flint native Amir Hekmati released from prison in Iran.

In a letter to President Barack Obama, former Secretary of Defense William Cohen, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Peter Pace, former National Security Adviser General James Jones and former allied commander in Europe General Joseph Ralston said "Mr. Hekmati is an American citizen who has been unjustly held in Iranian prison for more than two years."

The letter goes on to say that after being falsely accused of espionage and being sentenced to death, Hekmati's death sentence was overturned due to lack of evidence and yet he still remains in prison.

U.S. Representative Dan Kildee of Flint has pushed for Hekmati's release for months and released a statement on the latest effort:

"This letter, signed by a former Secretary of Defense and three retired four-star general, is an important statement as Iran continues to hold my constituent, Amir Hakmati, in prison. During the interim nuclear agreement now in effect, Iran can show it is serious about reengaging the global community by releasing Amir. He has been unjustly held for over two years, and releasing him now to be reunited with his family in Michigan would be a tangible demonstration to the U.S. and the world that it seeks to rejoin the global community."