The Biden administration successfully freed basketball star Brittney Griner from Russian custody, but did nothing to release American military veteran Paul Whelan, who is serving a 16-years jail term in Russia.
Biden released an internationally recognized mass murderer Viktor Bout to bring Griner home in a weak prisoner swap deal.
Biden Should Have Been Working to Free Whelan Not Griner
Last week, Biden announced that he reached a prisoner swap deal with Russia, in which America will release Russian illegal arms dealer Viktor Bout in exchange for American basketball star Brittney Griner.
However, Biden claimed he failed to release Whelan, adding that Russia is considering his case differently.
According to the hostage affairs envoy of the Biden administration, Roger Carstens, Biden and the Secretary of State Antony Blinken are hyper-focused on bringing Whelan back to the United States.
Carstens also assured media outlets that the Biden administration is working to secure the release of Whelan, as the government is pursuing different ways to help him.
Furthermore, Carstens insisted that Biden could soon sign an executive order to sanction foreign individuals responsible for illegally detaining Americans.
When reporters asked Carstens about the possible options of America to help Whelan, the hostage affairs envoy noted the government could not reveal all of its plans right now.
However, Carstens continued, the Biden administration has some interesting and exciting plans ready to help Whelan.
Carstens also told CNN that he spoke with Whelan after Griner’s release and reassured him the American government was coming to help him soon.
Meet Brittney Griner & Marine Paul Whelan.
Both Americans.
Both were convicted in Russian courts on dubious charges.
Both serving multi-year sentences in Russian prison.
Brittney hates America
Paul served AmericaGuess which one Biden traded a terrorist to free?
Semper fi Paul pic.twitter.com/tuP1R6AZpf
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) December 8, 2022
Biden Faces Massive Criticism For Weak Prisoner Swap Deal
Since Griner was detained in Russia nearly 10 months ago, the Biden administration has burnt the midnight oil to make her free.
For this, the incumbent administration even released an illegal Russian arms dealer who is responsible for delivering arms to anti-American forces and terrorists.
Bout, who is famously known as a “Merchant of Death,” supplied illegal arms to Al-Qaeda, the Taliban, and many other anti-American entities.
Though the same Biden administration has done little to help Whelan, who also expressed disappointment over the poor response of the Biden administration towards his release.
After Griner’s release, Whelan told CNN he was imprisoned for the crime he never committed, adding he is disappointed the Biden administration has done nothing to secure his release.
How could Biden leave Paul Whelan behind when he gave Putin back a notorious criminal known as the "Merchant of Death"?
This is a complete slap in the face to the Whelan family.
Really shocking, even for Joe Biden.
— Lauren Boebert (@laurenboebert) December 9, 2022
Many Republicans have also questioned the terms of the prisoner swap deal under which Griner is freed.
For instance, Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene noted the flawed prisoner swap deal is another reason to impeach Biden. Likewise, potential upcoming House Speaker Kevin McCarthy slammed Biden for releasing Bout without taking Whelan back.
McCarthy stated Bout remained involved in the murder of numerous American law enforcement officials, adding he should have been released only if Russia was ready to release Whelan.
This article appeared in TheDailyBeat and has been published here with permission.
