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.
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CNN reports that this is the first time Biden has met with the families in person.
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CNN reports that this is the first time Biden has met with the families in person.
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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
