Biden to Meet With , Families of Russian Detainees , Griner and Whelan.
On September 16, President Joe Biden
will meet with the families of Brittney Griner
and Paul Whelan at the White House. .
CNN reports that this is
the first time Biden has met
with the families in person. .
CNN reports that this is
the first time Biden has met
with the families in person. .
According to White House press secretary
Karine Jean-Pierre, Biden will meet
with Griner's wife and Whelan's sister.
According to White House press secretary
Karine Jean-Pierre, Biden will meet
with Griner's wife and Whelan's sister.
Jean-Pierre says that Biden hopes to assure the families that the release of their loved ones remains "front of mind" for his administration.
One of the things that the president
wanted to make clear is, and one of the
reasons he's meeting with the families,
is that he wanted to let them know that
they remain front of mind and that his
team is working on this every day,
on making sure that Brittney
and Paul return home safely, Karine Jean-Pierre, White House press secretary, via CNN.
In February, Griner was detained after
vape cartridges containing cannabis
oil were found in her luggage.
She was then sentenced
to nine years in prison and ordered
to pay a fine of about $16,400.
Paul Whelan has been imprisoned in Russia for
over three years after being convicted of espionage
charges which he has vehemently denied.
Paul Whelan has been imprisoned in Russia for
over three years after being convicted of espionage
charges which he has vehemently denied.
In June of 2020, he was sentenced
to 16 years in prison following
a trial denounced as unfair.
CNN reports that the Biden administration has
offered to exchange convicted Russian arms dealer
Viktor Bout as part of a trade for Griner and Whelan.
CNN reports that the Biden administration has
offered to exchange convicted Russian arms dealer
Viktor Bout as part of a trade for Griner and Whelan.
While I would love to say that the purpose
of this meeting is to inform the families
that the Russians have accepted our offer
and we are bringing their loved ones
home, that is not what we're seeing
in these negotiations at this time, Karine Jean-Pierre, White House press secretary, via CNN.
While I would love to say that the purpose
of this meeting is to inform the families
that the Russians have accepted our offer
and we are bringing their loved ones
home, that is not what we're seeing
in these negotiations at this time, Karine Jean-Pierre, White House press secretary, via CNN
