Levinson Family via AP
An
undated handout photo provided by the family of Robert Levinson shows
the retired-FBI agent who vanished on the Iranian island of Kish in
March 2007. Levinson's family received these photographs of him in April
2011.
“Bob is a courageous man who has dedicated himself, including risking his own life, in service to the U.S. government,” Levinson’s family said in a statement provided to NBC News. “But the U.S. government has failed to make saving this good man’s life the priority it should be.”
The Associated Press and Washington Post reported Thursday afternoon that Levinson, who the U.S. government has long insisted was visiting Iran as a private citizen, was actually working for the CIA when he vanished after a meeting on Iran's Kish Island on March 9, 2007.
New
information reveals that retired FBI agent Bob Levinson, who vanished
in Iran in the spring of 2007, was doing work for the CIA at the time.
NBC's Pete Williams reports.
Carroll acknowledged the possibility that publication of the report might put Levinson at risk.
“It is almost certain that his captors already know about the CIA connection but without knowing exactly who the captors are, it is difficult to know whether publication of Levinson’s CIA mission would make a difference to them,” she said. “That does not mean there is no risk. But with no more leads to follow, we have concluded that the importance of the story justifies publication.”
Related: Ex-FBI agent Levinson marks sad milestone in captivity
Levinson’s family members took a positive approach on the report in their statement, saying that they hoped it would prompt the U.S. government to step up efforts to bring him home.
“There are those in the U.S. government who have done their duty in their efforts to find Bob, but there are those who have not,” it said. “It is time for the U.S. government to step up and take care of one of its own. After nearly seven years, our family should not be struggling to get through each day without this wonderful, caring, man that we love so much.”
NBC News' Investigative Reporter Robert Windrem contributed to this report.
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