Washington - Today, Sean Goldman - the 9-year old New Jersey boy kept away from his father, David, by the Brazilian husband of his deceased mother - has been reunited with his father and is returning to New Jersey. U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), who has helped intervene on the father's behalf, reacted to the news.
"This is such a happy day in which a New Jersey family kept apart for five long years has finally reunited," said Menendez. "Anyone who has talked to David or heard him speak tearfully about being apart from his son knows how determined he was to see this day and how joyful he must be at this moment. I am thrilled for him and Sean. I am pleased the Brazilian courts at last recognized the clear legal and moral path forward. At its heart, this case was about a father and his son being able to finally unite, and I hope they can now begin to rebuild their life together."
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Menendez and his staff met and spoke with David Goldman on numerous occasions and, through his role on the Foreign Relations Committee, worked with the State Department on this case. He and Senator Frank Lautenberg wrote the Brazilian president earlier this year, calling on him to follow international law in this matter (http://lautenberg.senate.gov/newsroom/record.cfm?id=307802). Menendez is also the co-sponsor of a Senate resolution urging Brazil to comply with international law.
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