Former US ambassador to the UN Richardson has died. He was involved as a negotiator in kidnapping cases of US citizens abroad – he was instrumental in the release of basketball player Griner, who was imprisoned in Russia.
Former US Ambassador to the UN Bill Richardson has died at the age of 75. He died at his home in Chatham, Massachusetts. This was confirmed by the Richardson Center for Global Engagement he founded for the dpa news agency.
Richardson was a member of the US Congress for 14 years as a member of the House of Representatives before becoming US Ambassador to the United Nations in New York in 1997. From 1998 to 2001, the Democrat worked as Secretary of Energy under US President Bill Clinton, between 2003 and 2010 he was governor in the state of New Mexico in the southwest of the USA.
negotiator in kidnapping cases
Richardson has acted as a negotiator in kidnapping cases and negotiated the release of US citizens wrongfully detained abroad. Most recently, for example, in the case of a US soldier held in Russia who was released in mid-January. Richardson was also instrumental in talks about the release of basketball player Brittney Griner.
“Few people have served our country in so many roles or with so much drive, creativity and good nature,” US President Joe Biden was quoted as saying by the White House. “He will be greatly missed.”