Father of Marine imprisoned in Russia says Ted Cruz 'didn't lift a finger' to release him, endorses opponent

Joey Reed made a vow in 2022 when his son, Trevor, was released by Russian authorities after nearly three years in captivity. Reed said he would do everything in his power to unseat Sen. Ted Cruz.

"He didn't do anything," Reed told The Dallas Morning News about efforts to free his son. "He's an embarrassment to the state of Texas, let me just say that. I don't care who runs against him, I will work for their campaign to defeat" him.

Reed kept that promise this week by appearing in Colin Allred's latest ad for his U.S. Senate campaign. In the video, Reed criticizes Cruz for his inaction during his son's imprisonment.

"The first politician we called was Ted Cruz. They basically said, 'We're not going to be able to help you.' Ted Cruz didn't lift a finger for us," Reed said. "Ted Cruz is not here for Texas. Ted Cruz is here for Ted Cruz."

Reed also praised Allred for supporting his family during the ordeal and endorsed him for the Senate seat. "Colin Allred was right there, working across party lines to help bring our son home," he said. "Sen. Cruz refused to help us when everyone else in government was. Elected officials are accountable not only for their actions but for their inactions."

Trevor Reed was arrested in Russia while visiting his girlfriend in Moscow in 2019. He was accused of assaulting a police officer, charges he and the U.S. government denied. Reed was sentenced to nine years in prison but freed as part of a prisoner swap in April 2022.

According to The Texas Tribune, Cruz didn't dispute Joey Reed's account at the time. He said he chose not to get involved, fearing it could complicate the situation.

"We were repeatedly advised by Administration officials that my taking a public role in this specific case would be counterproductive and that, due to my role in opposing the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, Russian leaders might link the two issues," Cruz's office said in a 2022 statement to The Dallas Morning News.

Joey Reed dismissed Cruz's justification, noting that he worked with several federal and state politicians from both parties, including Sen. John Cornyn and Rep. Michael McCaul, both of whom are outspoken critics of the Russian government. Cornyn even sponsored a resolution in the Senate calling for the immediate release of Trevor.

Texas remains one of the Democrats' top targets in the U.S. Senate race. Initially, Allred's chances of unseating Cruz seemed slim, but he has narrowed the polling gap. While Texas is still a deep-red state, Allred has focused his campaign on his bipartisan record, steering clear of national Democratic issues like the potential matchup between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris.