President Donald Trump said on Sunday that lawyer and Belarus envoy John Coale will become special presidential envoy for hostage affairs, replacing Adam Boehler, who will remain a senior adviser.
President Donald Trump said on Sunday that John Coale, a lawyer who has served as his envoy for Belarus, will be special presidential envoy for hostage affairs, Reuters reported.
Trump wrote on Truth Social that Coale had secured the return of more than 65 Americans and allied citizens from Belarus over the past year and negotiated the release of more than 800 political prisoners from several countries in Eastern Europe.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko pardoned 15 prisoners last month after talks with Coale, who has been speaking with Minsk for more than a year, Reuters said.
Coale will replace Adam Boehler. Trump said Boehler had brought back 196 hostages and, in August, helped secure the release of a former American marine from Russia. Boehler will continue to assist as a senior adviser.
The White House announcement did not set a start date for the new role.