Bill Richardson, age 75 was reported to have passed away Friday the 1st of September. His reputation comes to mind as a hostage negotiator. Even recently he was trying to negotiate for the release of two Russian hostages Paul Whelan and Evan Gershkovich. The talks were ongoing with Carston, the U.S. hostage negotiator taking the helm. Richardson managed to negotiate Brittney Griner’s release last year but only after having to trade a high-value Russian arms dealer, Viktor Anatolyevich Bout. He was reported to currently be involved in the North Korean negotiations for an African American soldier Travis King, who had walked across the demilitarized zone into North Korea in July after having served temporary incarceration in a Korean jail for a second assault on a South Korean civilian. There has been no indication from the authorities in North Korea of their intentions regarding a highly publicized and politicized case was that of Otto Warmbier, a University of Virginia undergraduate student arrested in North Korea in January 2016 while being a tour participant. He was accused of defacing and attempting to steal a North Korean political banner and as a result, was held and charged by the Koreans. He later suffered traumatic injury through interrogation or something similarly related and became critically ill. Richardson managed to negotiate his return after many months of discussions only to arrive dead once released to U.S. custody. The North Koreans did not give any excuse and stated they had done their best to treat his unknown illness.
Bill Richardson had demonstrated his ability to negotiate hostage crises while serving in Congress in the 90’s and as a UN Ambassador in 1997. During his time as a crisis and hostage negotiator, he managed to work with North Korea, Cuba, Iraq, Russia, and Sudan. He was well-liked and respected in U.S. American political circles as well as internationally. Currently, the U.S. hostage crisis negotiator Roger Carstens, referred to Richardson as “a friend and partner in bringing wrongfully detained Americans and hostages home.”
Richardson received undergraduate and graduate degrees from Tufts University in the early 70’s. He later became involved in Congressional politics having served as a Congressional aide. After his term as a Congressman and head of the U.S. Energy Commission, he was a two-time Governor of New Mexico. He was not without controversy, having been investigated for campaign improprieties during his run as a Presidential Candidate in 2008 and again for similar but unrelated campaign finance violations in 2011. As Governor of New Mexico, he managed to overcome hurdles in Education, Health Care, Commuter Transportation, and several other areas that propelled the State into the 20th century. Bill Richardson however controversial at times laid down a footprint for this country, his family and friends can certainly tout his civil diplomacy, trust, and humanitarian successes. Sincere condolences to his family and friends.