U.S. Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement on Guthrie McLean.

“I am thrilled to report that we just received an email from Guthrie McLean’s mother that ‘prayers answered, Guthrie is home,’” Daines stated. “After days of working the phones with top Chinese and American officials to secure Guthrie’s freedom from a Chinese detention facility, he has been safely reunited with his mother.”

University President Sheila Stearns reacted with relief that McLean had been released.

"We have heard from Senator Steve Daines' office that Guthrie McLean has been released and is home with his mother," Stearns said. "That is of course terrific news. We don't have any more details than that I do know that a lot of people went to bat to help him and his mother work out the circumstances, so we're really very pleased."

The press release went on to state that Daines had been working through the weekend with both the Chinese and United States Embassies, the Chinese government, local officials and McLean’s mother, Jennifer McLean, to coordinate his return home. Guthrie was reunited with mother just before 2AM local time, 12PM MST.

Daines visited directly with Ambassador Cui Tiankai to urge a prompt resolution to McLean’s case.  Daines also visited with Ambassador Terry Branstad regarding McLean's case.

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