WNBA Star Brittney Griner Doing ‘Ok’ In Extended Detention In Russia Full view INDIANAPOLIS, IN - SEPTEMBER 06: Brittney Griner #42 of the Phoenix Mercury is seen during the game against the Indiana Fever at Indiana Farmers Coliseum on September 6, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.(Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
Former President Donald Trump was not “prepared to” or “interested in” working on Paul Whelan‘s release, according to Paul’s brother, David Whelan. David slammed Trump throughout the weekend after the former President criticized the Biden administration for the negotiated release of Brittney Griner.
Paul, who has been wrongfully detained by Russian officials for four years, is a former U.S. Marine. Two of his four years in prison were during Trump‘s presidential term.
“I think the first two years, partly I think the Trump administration was not prepared to or not interested in working on wrongful detention cases,” David told MSNBC.
David tweeted about Trump’s commentary on his brother.
Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter!
A week of political news in your in-box.
We find the news you need to know, so you don't have to.
“Former President Trump appears to have mentioned my brother #PaulWhelan‘s wrongful detention more in the last 24 hours than he did in the 2 years of his presidency,” David tweeted.
David praised the Biden administration’s attempts to free wrongfully detained U.S. nationals.
“The Biden administration is much more engaged in wrongful detentions,” he said.
Paul’s detention has gained a lot of media attention following the release of Griner. She spent nine months in a Russian penal colony after being arrested on drug charges — she was found carrying a vape pen with a small dose of hashish oil.
The Biden administration negotiated Griner’s release with Russian officials, offering the “Merchant of Death,” Viktor Bout, in return. Bout served time in U.S. prison after being convicted of conspiracy to kill U.S. citizens and officials.
Bout profited from the collapse of the U.S.S.R., selling leftover weaponry from the fallen government to countries in conflict. Many of those countries — including Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria — were engaged in violent conflict with the U.S.
Paul was sentenced to 16 years on espionage charges.
The Biden Administration remains adamant in its effort to secure Whelan’s release. Biden maintains that the Russians treated Paul’s case differently than Griner’s.
“We’re meeting today, Monday morning, to go through the next steps of the strategy, but Paul, we haven’t forgotten you; we’re coming to get you,” Roger Carstens, U.S. special presidential envoy for hostage affairs, told Good Morning America.
Since Vice President Kamala Harris' (D) started her campaign earlier this week, numerous polls have…
In a brief video released Friday by the Harris campaign, former President Barack Obama and…
Former President Donald Trump has filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission over the…
On Thursday, Vice President Kamala Harris released her first campaign ad attacking former President Donald…
On Wednesday night, President Joe Biden addressed the nation from the Oval Office for the…
Several Democratic lawmakers participated in a series of counter-programming events instead of attending Israeli Prime…