Subject: A Strategic Opportunity to Rescue an American Child from Russia

Dear Ambassador Huckabee and Mr. Donaldson,

I write to you today not only as a father in distress, but as an American who deeply respects your lifelong commitment to the foundational principles of Faith, Family, and our nation’s unwavering alliance with Israel. Governor, your work has always been rooted in the conviction that some things are absolute moral issues. I have also watched with admiration as your daughter, Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, continues this legacy in Arkansas, championing landmark pro-family initiatives like the Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies Act to protect the state’s most vulnerable children. It is this shared, deeply held belief in the sanctity of family and the duty to protect a child that compels me to seek your counsel.

My 5-year-old American son, Leon, is being illegally retained in the Russian Federation following his mother’s death. For nearly two years, my own government has been unable to help. The U.S. State Department has issued a Level 4 “Do Not Travel” advisory for Russia, publicly stating its “severely limited ability” to assist American citizens due to risks of harassment and wrongful detention. The official channels are broken. My son, an American citizen, is trapped in a nation our government officially recognizes as a danger zone where citizens are used as “bargaining chips”.

We have witnessed the tremendous power and moral clarity of the United States when it chooses to act. Our government, in concert with Israel, has moved mountains to bring Israeli hostages home from Gaza. We have seen the compassion of former First Lady Melania Trump, who personally established a backchannel with President Putin to successfully reunite Ukrainian children with their families. These were righteous and necessary actions. But they lead to a painful question: Why is a beautiful American boy, who finds himself in similarly difficult circumstances, being left behind by his country while others are saved?

This is not merely a crisis; it is a strategic opportunity for moral leadership. I am not asking you to move the entire weight of this problem alone. I am proposing a viable, intelligence-driven plan that leverages existing relationships and proven backchannels. The first step is to engage former First Lady Melania Trump, asking her to replicate the exact model of quiet, effective diplomacy she has already established with the Russian government on this very issue. Her success provides a direct and politically sound template for action.

Simultaneously, this is an opportunity to engage Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not with a simple humanitarian request, but with a chance to secure a quiet, powerful victory for Israel. Assisting in the rescue of an American child from Russia would be a profound demonstration of the U.S.-Israel alliance’s strength and influence. It would be a tangible win that reinforces the deep bond between Israel and its most ardent supporters in America, a community you have so faithfully led. Furthermore, a creative diplomatic path exists through Indonesia. President Prabowo Subianto has committed his nation to a foreign policy of peaceful conflict resolution and, as a fellow BRICS member with Russia, can offer a neutral, face-saving channel for dialogue that is potentially very difficult for the U.S. I have engaged the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta with a similar request that I understand they are currently considering.

This is a chance to affirm that an American child will not be abandoned. I respectfully request a brief conversation with a member of your team to outline this strategic plan in greater detail. Thank you for your service, for the faith you bring to public life, and for considering this urgent appeal.