President Joe Biden reiterated that the US remains committed to helping Whelan and Griner and other Americans detained abroad, a White House official said
President Joe Biden on Friday called Elizabeth Whelan, the White House said, the sister of a US Marine who has been jailed in Russia since 2018 on alleged espionage charges
Whelan’s sister was previously “amazed” and “devastated” by the fact that Biden didn’t call her family after he called the wife of WNBA star Britney Griner, who had just pleaded guilty to drug charges in Moscow.
Biden reiterated that the US remains committed to bringing home Whelan and Griner and other Americans held abroad.
A White House official said the government will continue to keep Whelan’s family informed.
“The U.S. government will continue to be in regular contact with Paul’s family and the families of other Americans who are being held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad to provide support and assistance and to update them on efforts to free their loved ones in the US to keep you updated.” said the officer.
The update comes after press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre refused to tell reporters whether Biden planned to call the jailed Marine’s relatives.
Asked about Elizabeth Whelan’s comments at her regular press conference, Jean-Pierre said administration officials had already been in touch.
“The President is kept regularly informed,” she added.
Jean-Pierre insisted this is “the most important thing” for Biden.
Paul Whelan’s sister complained earlier this week that President Joe Biden had not contacted her family about her brother’s detention in Russia
The White House issued a press statement on July 6 announcing a call to Cherelle Griner, the basketball player’s wife, with Vice President Kamala Harris and assuring her that the government was doing everything possible to get her out of jail.
“Still looking for that press release saying @POTUS spoke to someone in OUR family about #PaulWhelan being unjustly held in #Russia for 3.5 years,” she wrote.
“I am devastated. If he wants to talk about securing Paul’s release, he needs to talk to the Whelans! What should we think?!’ She added.
Speaking on CNN, Elizabeth Whelan made it clear that she wasn’t jealous of the attention Griner, a Phoenix Mercury center, is getting over her detention for two vape cartridges of cannabis oil that she carried through Moscow airport.
Britney Griner’s wife Cherelle (pictured) has urged President Joe Biden to secure her release
Britney Griner, 31, is led into the courtroom just before pleading guilty to drug charges
Paul Whelan, a former U.S. Marine arrested on charges of espionage, listens to the verdict in a courtroom of the Moscow City Court in Moscow, Russia June 15, 2020
Paul Whelan, wearing glasses, as he is escorted to court for his espionage trial in Moscow in October 2019
“It’s really wonderful,” she said. “They have resources well beyond what our family does. Our concern is why the use is for some families and not for others. There are more than 55 families who would like the same attention.”
She was referring to the number of Americans she believes are currently being held in Russian jails and jails.
Griner pleaded guilty to drug offenses Thursday, telling the court she packed in a hurry and had no intention of breaking the law. You face 10 years behind bars.
Paul Whelan, on the other hand, was arrested in a Moscow hotel in December 2018 and charged with spying in Russia for the United States. He was sentenced to 16 years of hard labor in a prison camp in the Republic of Mordovia.
The former soldier has repeatedly maintained his innocence but was convicted and sentenced in June 2020.
The Whelan family said the call with Cherelle Griner suggested the Biden administration was playing favorites.
Former US Marine Trevor Reed was swapped for convicted Russian drug dealer Konstantin Yaroshenko in a prisoner swap at a Turkish airport on Wednesday
“I begrudge Ms. Griner and her supporters their success in getting the President’s attention while he ignores so many other families,” Paul Whelan’s twin brother, David Whelan, told The Detroit News.
“It suggests that the only way to get the attention of the White House under President Trump or President Biden is to have fame, wealth and resources that most unjustly incarcerated do not have,” he added.
Elizabeth Whelan said it should be.
Elizabeth Whelan said she would like a “more coordinated” and “creative” approach by the Biden administration to try to bring her brother home from Russia, where he is in prison
“I was amazed to hear about that call and it really got me thinking,” she said. “Shall we push for a meeting with the President? Is this necessary to bring my brother home? What I’d really like to see is a working process that doesn’t require that.’
The Whelan family has openly criticized the Biden administration’s handling of Americans detained abroad.
In April, Trevor Reed, another former Marine arrested in Moscow, was released in a prisoner swap with Konstantin Yaroshenko, a US convicted drug trafficker.
“I think what we’re really concerned about is that there seems to be a lack of a coordinated effort to bring Paul and others wrongly imprisoned home,” Elizabeth Whelan said in June.
“Furthermore, trades are not the only tools that the US government could use.
“And I’m really concerned that everyone has been cornered about whether it’s a deal or not.
“Meanwhile, Paul is rotting away in a Russian gulag, waiting for someone to fix it.”