The twin brother of Paul Whelan, the former U.S. Marine detained in Russia on espionage charges, says he has mixed feelings about the responses to the cases involving Trevor Reed and Brittney Griner in comparison to his brother.
Paul Whelan, a former U.S. Marine, accused of spying and arrested in Russia, stands inside a defendants' cage during a hearing at a court in Moscow, Aug. 23, 2019.The twin brother of Paul Whelan, the former U.S. Marine detained in Russia on espionage charges, said he had mixed feelings about the responses to the cases involving Trevor Reed and Brittney Griner in comparison to his brother.
“It's a devastating call to have to make to our parents for Paul,” he added, “to tell him he was left behind once, and maybe we might have to have that conversation a second time.” Paul Whelan was detained in Russia in December 2018 and accused of spying. His brother said he was in Moscow for a friend's wedding and was given a USB drive.
Paul Whelan pleaded not guilty, claiming it was a sting operation and that he thought the USB drive contained holiday photos. In June 2020, he was found guilty and sentenced to 16 years of “hard labor” in a Russian prison. “We mostly pointed back at them and say, ‘Why would you ask a family to have to take on this responsibility,’” said David Whelan.Asked by ABC News’ Brad Mielke to speak about the overlaps between the three cases, David Whelan said that “each of these cases is distinct. And each of them has different requirements. And so the resources that the U.S. government brings to bear on each case is going to be different.
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