By Kevin McCauley
Patton Boggs has offered to provide pro bono assistance to Jacob Ostreicher, the Brooklyn man who has languished in a Bolivian prison without being formally charged.
The Washington-based firm promised Ostreicher’s wife, Miriam, that is would “aggressively advocate” for his freedom and return to the U.S.
She told Congress today that Ostreicher “has been incarcerated on unsubstantiated accusations” and has not been formally charged. “Every day that he remains in prison, his human rights are being violated.”
She criticized the U.S. Embassy for not interceding on “Jacob’s behalf due to his failing health.” Staffers insisted that Ostreicher visit the prison doctor, though he is not licensed to practice medicine.
“Does any government want to walk an innocent American citizen out of this prison, or would they prefer to carry him out,” she told the House subcommittee on Africa, global health and human rights that is chaired by New Jersey Republican Christopher Smith.
Patton Boggs has handled similar cases in Panama, Russia and Belarus.
5W Public Relations is providing PR counsel to Ostreicher’s family.
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