American pastor released by China after U.S. insists on wrongful imprisonment

David Lin, a U.S. pastor who had been in jail in China since 2006 on charges of contract fraud, has been freed and returned to the United States after nearly 20 years. Politicians in the U.S. had long called for his release, with the State Department welcoming his return and the opportunity for him to reunite with his family. The chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee had previously urged President Biden to push for the release of Lin and two other detainees, Kai Li and Mark Swidan, who were also said to be wrongfully detained. China maintains that these cases are handled according to law. A congressional commission is set to hold a hearing on Wednesday regarding American citizens imprisoned in China, with a particular focus on the cases of Lin, Li, and Swidan, all of whom have reportedly faced health issues during their imprisonment.

Photo credit
www.nbcnews.com