Current:Home > InvestPaul Whelan, imprisoned in Russia for yet another Christmas, issues plea to Biden: "He's the man that can bring me home"-LoTradeCoin
Paul Whelan, imprisoned in Russia for yet another Christmas, issues plea to Biden: "He's the man that can bring me home"
View Date:2024-12-23 20:10:17
Washington — It was the eve of Paul Whelan's fifth Christmas behind bars in Russia when a call came through to a reporter at WTOP Radio in Washington, D.C., on Sunday.
"I feel alone," Whelan told the reporter. "I feel that I've been left behind."
It was a desperate plea from the 53-year-old former Marine detained on espionage charges, and a direct appeal to President Biden following the release of two other Americans — Marine veteran Trevor Reed and WNBA star Brittney Griner — from Russian detainment last year.
Mr. Biden is "the guy that made the decision to leave me behind twice," Whelan said. "He's the man that can bring me home."
Whelan last week also gave a phone interview to the BBC in which he described his situation as "a serious betrayal."
The native of Novi, Michigan, was first detained by Russian authorities in December 2018 while attending a friend's wedding. He was convicted in 2020 of espionage and sentenced to 16 years of hard labor.
Both Whelan and the U.S. government have dismissed the charges as "baseless." The U.S. considers him wrongfully detained.
"Mr. President, you promise to bring me home," Whelan told WTOP. "I'm still here. There has to be more that you can do to secure my release."
Whelan remains in a penal colony in the remote Russian province of Mordovia, 350 miles east of Moscow. Last month, he was attacked by a fellow prisoner but not seriously hurt, his brother told CBS News in an email.
Also currently detained in Russia is 32-year-old Evan Gershkovich, an American reporter for the Wall Street Journal held for nearly nine months in pre-trial detention on espionage charges that he, his newspaper and the U.S. government strongly reject.
"All I can say is this: We're very actively working on it, and we'll leave no stone unturned to see if we can't find the right way to get them home and to get them home as soon as possible," Secretary Blinken told reporters last week.
In a statement provided to CBS News on Monday, Adrienne Watson, a spokesperson for the National Security Council, said that "there is no higher priority for President Biden than bringing home the Americans still wrongfully detained and held hostage abroad, including Paul Whelan."
In her statement, Watson reiterated what the State Department previously disclosed — that the U.S. has made "significant offers" to Russia for Whelan and Gershkovich, "including one earlier this month" that was rejected by Russia.
"We also continue our conversations with third party countries as we work to find a way to secure their release," Watson added.
- In:
- Paul Whelan
- Russia
CBS News reporter covering homeland security and justice.
TwitterveryGood! (882)
Related
- Beyoncé's Grammy nominations in country categories aren't the first to blur genre lines
- Last Chance Summer Steal: Save 67% On This Coach Tote Bag That Comes in 4 Colors
- Bachelor Nation's Kaitlyn Bristowe Opens Up About Her Grief After Jason Tartick Breakup
- Mississippi GOP Gov. Tate Reeves will face Democrat Brandon Presley in the November election
- Manhattan rooftop fire sends plumes of dark smoke into skyline
- Jay-Z's Made in America 2023 festival canceled due to 'severe circumstances'
- Selena Gomez and Sister Gracie Dance the Night Away at BFF Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour
- Hawaii wildfires burn homes and force evacuations, while strong winds complicate the fight
- Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan says next year will be his last in office; mum on his plans afterward
- Sen. Dianne Feinstein, 90, falls at home and goes to hospital, but scans are clear, her office says
Ranking
- Craig Melvin replacing Hoda Kotb as 'Today' show co-anchor with Savannah Guthrie
- Musk said he'll pay legal costs for employees treated unfairly over Twitter
- ESPN strikes $1.5B deal to jump into sports betting with Penn Entertainment
- Jamie Lee Curtis' graphic novel shows how 'We're blowing it with Mother Nature'
- Best fits for Corbin Burnes: 6 teams that could match up with Cy Young winner
- Logan Paul to fight Dillon Danis in his first boxing match since Floyd Mayweather bout
- Oregon Capitol construction quietly edges $90 million over budget
- Robert De Niro's Grandson Leandro's Cause of Death Confirmed by Officials
Recommendation
-
Asian sesame salad sold in Wegmans supermarkets recalled over egg allergy warning
-
The Latest BookTok Obsessions You Need to Read
-
Chris Noth Admits He Strayed From His Wife While Denying Sexual Assault Allegations
-
July was Earth's hottest month ever recorded, EU climate service says, warning of dire consequences
-
Family of security guard shot and killed at Portland, Oregon, hospital sues facility for $35M
-
GOP megadonor pours millions into effort to hinder Ohio abortion amendment
-
Elon Musk says fight with Mark Zuckerberg will stream live on X, formerly Twitter
-
The Latest BookTok Obsessions You Need to Read