Good evening. I'm Jeff Bennett and I'm Amman Navaz on the news hour tonight.

The United States and Venezuela agreed to a prisoner swap bringing several detained Americans home.

Colorado's Supreme Court disqualifies former President Donald Trump from the 2024 primary ballot, setting up a high stakes legal battle.

And Israel continues ground operations in Gaza and puts a one week pause in fighting back on the table as families of hostages plead for their release.

We need to pressure them harder to make this agreement to release my father and others

because we don't have this time to wait any day can be his last day now. Welcome to the news hour. In a high profile prisoner swap, 10 Americans are heading home tonight after the U.S. freed a top

ally of Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro.

Six of the Americans were judged wrongfully detained by the U.S. State Department.

As part of the deal, the Maduro government also agreed to free 20 Venezuelan political prisoners,

and a fugitive defense contractor, Leonard Francis, will be returned to the United States.

He fled before sentencing in a massive bribery scandal involving the U.S. Navy.

President Biden, returning to the White House tonight tonight took questions on the swap.

What is it okay for the U.S. to be negotiating with the majority?

The majority of the government sending back people in Justice Department justice.

It's okay because we've trained American people who are held illegally and

the magmented deal with Venezuela at the whole free election so far they maintain their

requirements and that's it.

For more on the significance of this deal, we turn now to Jonathan Franks.

He's an expert on crisis management

and has worked on the successful release of several other Americans detained

overseas. John welcome back it's good to see you you represent one of the

families of the Americans Free today 38 year old

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