Paul Whelan ain’t blissful that he is nonetheless behind bars in Russia … saying Thursday he is “dissatisfied” with Joe Biden and his administration after he wasn’t included within the Brittney Griner deal.
Whelan spoke with CNN from a penal colony in Russia simply hours after the U.S. efficiently swapped arms seller Viktor Bout for Griner … and he expressed angst that he is nonetheless behind bars — whereas the WNBA star is on her method residence.
CNN
“I’m enormously dissatisfied that extra has not been completed to safe my launch, particularly because the 4 yr anniversary of my arrest is developing,” stated Whelan, who’s been locked up in Russia on espionage fees since 2018.
“I used to be arrested for against the law that by no means occurred,” he continued. “I do not perceive why I’m nonetheless sitting right here.”
The retired Marine did, in response to CNN, say he was “very blissful” for Griner … however he famous the circumstances he is in, and the way in which he is being handled by Russian authorities, could not be farther from best.
“It’s fairly apparent that I’m being held hostage,” he stated.
Whelan added that he hoped the Biden administration “would do every little thing they may to get me residence, whatever the worth they may must pay at this level.”
“My baggage are packed,” he stated. “I’m able to go residence. I simply want an airplane to come back and get me.”
Whelan is at the moment serving a 16-year jail sentence.
Tune in as I ship an essential announcement. https://t.co/2BVdSsmIFA
— President Biden (@POTUS) December 8, 2022
@POTUS
Biden stated Thursday that Russia wouldn’t budge when the U.S. tried to incorporate Whelan in the Griner swap … however he insisted that he and his administration are doing every little thing of their energy to get him again.
“We usually are not giving up,” the President stated. “We won’t ever quit.”