Paul Whelan

2022 - 7 - 27

Viktor Bout

CNN Exclusive: Biden administration offers convicted Russian arms ... (CNN)

After months of internal debate, the Biden administration has offered to exchange Viktor Bout, a convicted Russian arms trafficker serving a 25-year US ...

We start all of these with somebody who has taken a human being American and treated them as a bargaining chip," the official said. Biden officials had been concerned the decision to swap Reed for Yaroshenko would be criticized by Republicans. Instead, it won bipartisan praise, including from a handful of Republicans who are normally sharp critics of the administration. The US government has long resisted prisoner swaps, claiming concerns that they only incentivize countries to detain Americans so they can be used as bargaining chips. They said it was in Russia's "court to be responsive to it, yet at the same time that does not leave us passive, as we continue to communicate the offer at very senior levels." These sources told CNN that the plan to trade Bout for Whelan and Griner received the backing of President Joe Biden after being under discussion since earlier this year. We start all negotiations to bring home Americans held hostage or wrongfully detained with a bad actor on the other side.

US offers 'substantial proposal' to bring Brittney Griner, Paul Whelan ... (Fox News)

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday that the Biden administration has offered a "substantial proposal" for the return of WNBA star Brittney ...

"I can tell you that it's topmost in the president's mind, as is the fate of Americans who are unjustly detained around the world, not just in Russia," National Security Council coordinator for strategic communications John Kirby said following Blinken's announcement. The U.S. State Department has classified Griner as "wrongfully detained." And I'll use the conversation to follow up personally and I hope move toward a resolution." "We put a substantial proposal on the table weeks ago to facilitate their release," he continued. I plan to raise an issue that's a top priority for us: the release of Americans Paul Whelan and Brittney Griner, who've been wrongfully detained and must be allowed to come home," Blinken said Wednesday. Griner pleaded guilty to a drug-smuggling charge earlier this month, adding that her "intent" was not to violate Russian law.

White House offers Russia rare deal in attempt to bring home Paul ... (Detroit Free Press)

WASHINGTON — The Biden administration has offered a deal to Russia aimed at bringing home WNBA star Brittney Griner and former Michigan businessman Paul ...

The Russian Foreign Ministry alleged Whelan, a former Marine, was caught in an act of espionage with a USB drive that contained classified information. He said guards threatened, abused and harassed him. She faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted of transporting drugs. The U.S. government has denounced the charges as false. He and his family have vigorously asserted his innocence. Blinken said he had requested a call with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. American officials said the the desire for an answer on the prisoner offer was the primary, but not only, reason that the U.S. on Wednesday requested the call with Lavrov.

Biden Administration Offers to Swap Russian Arms Dealer Viktor ... (Daily Beast)

The Biden administration has offered a deal to Russia aimed at bringing home WNBA star Brittney Griner and another jailed American, Paul Whelan,” Antony ...

In his bombshell announcement Wednesday, Blinken also said that he intends to speak with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, with whom he has not talked since before Russia invaded Ukraine. Blinken said he hopes to discuss both the potential prisoner swap and a recent UN-brokered deal about releasing Ukrainian grain. Pressure has mounted on Biden to bring the two home and the trade, if successful, could be a much-needed political win. He described the offer as a “substantial proposal” and said it was made weeks ago, though the Associated Press reports that it remains unclear whether Russia will accept it. Reed, who was held in Russia for more than two years on what the U.S. said were trumped-up charges of assaulting police, was exchanged for a Russian pilot who had been in U.S. federal prison for more than a decade on cocaine smuggling charges. The White House may have been emboldened by its recent success in bringing home Trevor Reed, a former Marine, through a prisoner swap. The offer would see notorious Russian arms trafficker Viktor Bout be released from a U.S. prison in exchange for the two American detainees.

Biden administration makes offer to Russia for release of WNBA star ... (CNBC)

The Biden administration is seeking the release of WNBA star Brittney Griner and ex-Marine Paul Whelan.

Biden reassured her wife that he is working to secure Griner's release as soon as possible, according to a White House readout of the call. He was later sentenced to nine years in a Russian prison. If she is convicted, the charge could carry a penalty of up to 10 years in prison. "This is delicate work," National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told reporters during a White House press briefing. WASHINGTON – The United States has made an offer to the Russian government for the release of WNBA star Brittney Griner and former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday. - The United States has made an offer to the Russian government for the release of WNBA star Brittney Griner and former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday.

Brittney Griner could be swapped for Russian arms dealer Viktor ... (AZCentral.com)

Secretary of State Blinken said the prisoner swap involving Griner and US exec Paul Whelan for the "merchant of death" was offered weeks ago.

The U.S. government has denounced the charges as false. The U.S. government has denounced the charges as false. The two last met in person in Geneva in January to discuss what was then Russia’s massive military build-up along Ukraine’s border and Russian demands for NATO to reduce its presence in eastern Europe and permanently deny Ukraine membership. The State Department said later that Russia’s diplomacy was “Kabuki Theater” — all show and no substance. The U.S. government has long resisted prisoner swaps out of concern that it could encourage additional hostage-taking and promote false equivalency between a wrongfully detained American and a foreign national regarded as justly convicted. At her trial Wednesday, Griner said she did not know how the cannabis oil ended up in her bag but explained she had a doctor’s recommendation for it and had packed in haste.