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'I wouldn't have lasted another year': freed teacher Stephen Hubbard tells Trump of four years in a Russian prison

Stephen Hubbard, 74, a retired American teacher held in a Russian prison for over four years on fabricated mercenary charges, met President Trump at the White House on Friday in an emotional Oval Office visit, telling him he would not have survived much longer in captivity.

Hubbard, who spoke no Russian and was allowed just one brief call to his son during his entire imprisonment, said he sometimes lost hope and kept faith by reading his mother's Bible.

Trump tied Hubbard's release directly to his decision to exempt Russia from Congressional sanctions, warning critics that imposing them mid-negotiation would have kept Hubbard jailed.

MoreThe IndependentTrump and teacher freed from Russia hold bizarre White House press conference with just one reporterNY PostFreed Russian prisoner Stephen Hubbard tells Trump ‘I wouldn’t have lasted another year,’ during emotional Oval Office visitCBS NewsTrump meeting with Stephen Hubbard at the White House today after release from Russian jailWashington TimesTrump ties Hubbard’s release to lifting of sanctions on RussiaNYT WorldNewly Freed American Describes His Years in Russian Prison
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