'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,' says President Biden. Whelan was seized in 2018 while visiting Moscow for a friend's wedding.
"We never forgot about Brittney. We've not forgotten about Paul Whelan who has been unjustly detained in Russia for years. This was not a choice of which American to bring home," Biden said from the White House.
President Joe Biden speaks to reporters about the release of WNBA basketball star Brittney Griner by Russia as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Vice President Kamala Harris and Cherelle Griner look on in the Roosevelt Room at the White House in Washington, Dec. 8, 2022.The Biden administration remains in close contact with the Whelan family, Biden said, adding they must have "such mixed emotions today.
He said officials let them know in advance "that Paul would be left behind," unlike in April, when news broke of former U.S. Marine Trevor Reed's return. "I want to be very clear: This was not a situation where we had a choice of which American to bring home. It was a choice between bringing home one particular American, Brittney Griner, or bringing home none," the official said.
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