Jacob Magid

For second consecutive month, Times of Israel is world’s fastest-growing news site timesofisrael.com/for-second-con… via @timesofisrael

While Boehler’s nomination for the new special government employee post has not yet been announced by the Trump administration, the new role “will add, not subtract, to the work Adam is doing to bring Americans home,” the second US official says. (7/7)

“President Trump’s mission of bringing ALL Americans home expands beyond the SPEHA mandate and involves coordination across government agencies,” the second US official says. (6/7)

Given that he has not been confirmed as SPEHA, Boehler was able to play a key role in securing their release, with six of them coming home two days ago. Involvement in such an effort would have been more legally complicated. (5/7)

Those categories don’t include thousands of other Americans held abroad for other reasons or who don’t fit into definitions for hostages or wrongfully detained. Those who don’t fall within the SPEHA mandate include 23 Americans held in Kuwait for years on drug offenses. (4/7)

The decision to withdraw his nomination stemmed from his desire to hold a position with a wider mandate. As SPEHA, Boehler would only legally be mandated to assist in efforts to secure the release of hostages and wrongfully detained Americans. (3/7)

However, Boehler will continue to work on the issue on behalf of the president and in particular will continue to assist US special envoy to the Mideast Steve Witkoff’s efforts to secure the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza, a second US official tell The Times of Israel. (2/7)

Adam Boehler decided to withdraw his nomination for special presidential envoy for hostage affairs (SPEHA) several weeks ago — before his secret direct talks with Hamas were uncovered by a furious Israel that leaked them to the press, senior US official tells @TimesofIsrael (1/7)