A prisoner swap that freed WNBA star Brittney Griner from Russian detention did not include Paul Whelan, another American that the State Department has declared wrongfully detained.Biden acknowledged that Griner’s release was occurring while Whelan remained imprisoned, saying that Whelan’s family “have to have such mixed emotions today.””This was not a choice of which American to bring home,” Biden said. “Sadly, for totally illegitimate reasons, Russia is treating Paul’s case differently than Brittney’s. And while we have not yet succeeded in securing Paul’s release, we are not giving up. We will never give up.” Whelan said he was happy that Griner was released, but told CNN, “I am greatly disappointed that more has not been done to secure my release, especially as the four-year anniversary of my arrest is coming up.””I was arrested for a crime that never occurred,” he said in a phone call from the penal colony where he is being held in a remote part of Russia. “I don’t understand why I’m still sitting here.”Whelan, a U.S., Irish, British and Canadian citizen, was detained at a Moscow hotel in December 2018 by Russian authorities who alleged he was involved in an intelligence operation.He was sentenced to 16 years in prison on espionage charges he has vehemently denied. Whelan had been carrying out his sentence at a different labor camp in Mordovia, an eight-hour drive from Moscow, where he told CNN in June 2021 he spent his days working in a clothing factory that he called a “sweatshop.”‘The only deal we could make right now’Biden gave final approval for the prisoner swap freeing Griner over the past week, an official familiar with the matter said, adding that Biden was updated on the swap as it was taking place this morning.He was briefed throughout the morning as he awaited confirmation that Griner was back in U.S. hands, a U.S. official said. Once that happened, Biden spoke with Griner from the Oval Office, with Cherelle Griner, Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken was also on the call, a second official said.Biden was “personally involved and in constant touch” with his team as this deal came together in the final days and after he gave his personal green light to execute the trade. The briefings – and questions Biden asked his team – were constant, a senior administration official says.The official added that this was the right deal to make, but notably said this was “the only deal we could make right now.”The Russians signaled recently that they were only willing to negotiate for Griner and not Whelan, a U.S. official said. That is because Russia has been handling their cases differently based on what each has been accused of.The Biden administration repeatedly made offers to get Whelan released as part of this deal, even after Russia made clear only Griner was acceptable.In the end, when it was clear Russia was going to refuse on Whelan, the U.S. had to accept it.”It was a choice to get Brittney or nothing,” the U.S. official said.The official says that was a “difficult decision” for Biden but again, one he felt he had to make. Whelan’s family supports Griner’s dealWhelan’s brother, David Whelan, told The Associated Press that their parents spoke with Paul on Thursday — a much different conversation than their routine calls focused on Whelan’s day-to-day life and updates from the family’s home in Michigan.”I think we all realize that the math is not going to work out for Paul to come home anytime soon, unless the U.S. government is able to find concessions,” David Whelan said. “And so I think we aren’t really sure what the way forward is.”The family does not have any way to judge the likelihood “that he will ever be free other than by serving his entire term,” he added.The situation “makes hope a little bit more difficult,” David Whelan said.The family’s pain doesn’t change their belief that the Biden administration “made the right choice” to exchange notorious Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout for Griner, David Whelan said.Whelan said a U.S. official visited his sister Wednesday at her home in Massachusetts to tell the family about Griner’s release, a decision that he said softened the blow of knowing his brother would stay jailed.Deal criticized by some politiciansNumerous Republican lawmakers criticized the deal for leaving Whelan in Russia, including Michigan Rep. Tim Walberg, who said he was heartbroken for the Whelan family.”They deserve better,” Walberg said in a statement.David Whelan dismissed criticism that Griner’s celebrity brought about her release and said he hopes Griner’s high profile will continue to bring attention to his brother and other Americans being held overseas.”We’ve got to support Paul. We’ve got to help him to survive,” David Whelan said. “It’s his mental health I worry about. How do you keep up surviving mentally in that sort of situation? Not only for days, but months and years. We’re coming up on four years, and I think, unfortunately, it may be years more that he has to face.”
A prisoner swap that freed WNBA star Brittney Griner from Russian detention did not include Paul Whelan, another American that the State Department has declared wrongfully detained.
Biden acknowledged that Griner’s release was occurring while Whelan remained imprisoned, saying that Whelan’s family “have to have such mixed emotions today.”
“This was not a choice of which American to bring home,” Biden said. “Sadly, for totally illegitimate reasons, Russia is treating Paul’s case differently than Brittney’s. And while we have not yet succeeded in securing Paul’s release, we are not giving up. We will never give up.”
Whelan said he was happy that Griner was released, but told CNN, “I am greatly disappointed that more has not been done to secure my release, especially as the four-year anniversary of my arrest is coming up.”
“I was arrested for a crime that never occurred,” he said in a phone call from the penal colony where he is being held in a remote part of Russia. “I don’t understand why I’m still sitting here.”
Whelan, a U.S., Irish, British and Canadian citizen, was detained at a Moscow hotel in December 2018 by Russian authorities who alleged he was involved in an intelligence operation.
He was sentenced to 16 years in prison on espionage charges he has vehemently denied. Whelan had been carrying out his sentence at a different labor camp in Mordovia, an eight-hour drive from Moscow, where he told CNN in June 2021 he spent his days working in a clothing factory that he called a “sweatshop.”
‘The only deal we could make right now’
Biden gave final approval for the prisoner swap freeing Griner over the past week, an official familiar with the matter said, adding that Biden was updated on the swap as it was taking place this morning.
He was briefed throughout the morning as he awaited confirmation that Griner was back in U.S. hands, a U.S. official said. Once that happened, Biden spoke with Griner from the Oval Office, with Cherelle Griner, Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken was also on the call, a second official said.
Biden was “personally involved and in constant touch” with his team as this deal came together in the final days and after he gave his personal green light to execute the trade. The briefings – and questions Biden asked his team – were constant, a senior administration official says.
The official added that this was the right deal to make, but notably said this was “the only deal we could make right now.”
The Russians signaled recently that they were only willing to negotiate for Griner and not Whelan, a U.S. official said. That is because Russia has been handling their cases differently based on what each has been accused of.
The Biden administration repeatedly made offers to get Whelan released as part of this deal, even after Russia made clear only Griner was acceptable.
In the end, when it was clear Russia was going to refuse on Whelan, the U.S. had to accept it.
“It was a choice to get Brittney or nothing,” the U.S. official said.
The official says that was a “difficult decision” for Biden but again, one he felt he had to make.
Whelan’s family supports Griner’s deal
Whelan’s brother, David Whelan, told The Associated Press that their parents spoke with Paul on Thursday — a much different conversation than their routine calls focused on Whelan’s day-to-day life and updates from the family’s home in Michigan.
“I think we all realize that the math is not going to work out for Paul to come home anytime soon, unless the U.S. government is able to find concessions,” David Whelan said. “And so I think we aren’t really sure what the way forward is.”
The family does not have any way to judge the likelihood “that he will ever be free other than by serving his entire term,” he added.
The situation “makes hope a little bit more difficult,” David Whelan said.
The family’s pain doesn’t change their belief that the Biden administration “made the right choice” to exchange notorious Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout for Griner, David Whelan said.
Whelan said a U.S. official visited his sister Wednesday at her home in Massachusetts to tell the family about Griner’s release, a decision that he said softened the blow of knowing his brother would stay jailed.
Deal criticized by some politicians
Numerous Republican lawmakers criticized the deal for leaving Whelan in Russia, including Michigan Rep. Tim Walberg, who said he was heartbroken for the Whelan family.
“They deserve better,” Walberg said in a statement.
David Whelan dismissed criticism that Griner’s celebrity brought about her release and said he hopes Griner’s high profile will continue to bring attention to his brother and other Americans being held overseas.
“We’ve got to support Paul. We’ve got to help him to survive,” David Whelan said. “It’s his mental health I worry about. How do you keep up surviving mentally in that sort of situation? Not only for days, but months and years. We’re coming up on four years, and I think, unfortunately, it may be years more that he has to face.”
