FBI accused of hiding information and deceiving wife of missionary held captive for 6+ years by Islamic extremists.

The FBI Accused of Misleading American Hostage’s Wife

The FBI is facing allegations of misleading the wife of an American hostage while working to secure the release of missionary Jeff Woodke, who was held captive by Islamic extremists for over six years.

Woodke, 62, was finally freed in March after being kidnapped from his home in Niger by Islamic militants in October 2016. However, he and his wife, Els, revealed that they believe FBI officials withheld crucial information and misled them about the kidnappers’ demands.

“It was hell. I think the hardest part was knowing that my family, if they were alive, they were suffering too,” Woodke said.

During his captivity, Woodke, who worked with the U.S. non-profit Youth With A Mission, endured chains, beatings, and pressure to convert to Islam.

Poor Communication and Lack of Assistance

The Woodkes claim that U.S. officials poorly communicated with them regarding the negotiation progress and provided little help in raising funds for a ransom. Els Woodke expressed her frustration during a Zoom call with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, stating, “So because you are rich, you can pay the ransom. But a poor person is never able to do that.”

Els Woodke and private investigator Robert Klamser alleged that the FBI withheld important information about the negotiations and misled them about the kidnappers’ demands. They discovered afterward that the captors initially demanded a ransom of 3 million euros ($3.3 million) and the release of prisoners. However, negotiators on behalf of the U.S. government convinced the militants to drop the prisoner release demand but increased the ransom to 6 million euros ($6.5 million), making it even more challenging for Els Woodke to raise the funds.

The U.S. government does not pay ransoms but allows hostage families to raise money for that purpose. However, Els Woodke stated that the FBI provided no written assurances that those involved in raising the ransom would not be prosecuted, making it difficult to secure donations. In 2021, she mentioned that government restrictions were hindering her fundraising efforts, according to the AP.

A policy implemented by the Obama administration in 2015 aimed to reassure hostage families that they would not face prosecution for raising ransom money. However, families have found the policy confusing, despite no prosecutions occurring since its implementation.

Woodke’s Release and Ongoing Struggles

Woodke was eventually released alongside a French journalist on March 20, but the White House has not fully disclosed the details of his return. The FBI stated that it had worked tirelessly to secure Woodke’s freedom but did not address the Woodkes’ allegations.

Now back home in McKinleyville, California, Woodke is recovering from leg injuries and facing medical bills. Despite being back in the U.S., he still feels abandoned by the government during his time in chains in Africa.

“We’re not things, we’re not bargaining chips, we’re not cases — we’re people,” Woodke emphasized. “We don’t want to sit under trees in chains. Our families don’t want to have to suffer.”