Soledad man to be in attendance at Biden’s State of the Union Address

WASHINGTON D.C., (KION-TV)- A Soledad man will be in attendance on Thursday night during President Biden's State of the Union Address.

U.S. Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren has invited Ahmadullah Habibi to sit in the Senate Chambers during President Biden's speech tonight.

Lofgren said Habibi's son Mahmood was arrested in Afghanistan in August 2022 because the Taliban believed he was involved in a drone strike that killed one of their leaders.

29 other hostages were released expect for Habibi's son and one of his colleagues. Lofgren said the Taliban has not acknowledged Mahmood's kidnapping.

"We are trying to get the Taliban to release him," Lofgren said. "I have introduced a resolution highlighting his situation."

Lofgren said the resolution demands Habibi's immediate and unconditional release.

The FBI has also opened a related criminal case against the Taliban.