Trevor Reed, a former Marine freed from a Russian prison in April, believes the Biden administration, which got him home, isn’t doing enough to get the other Americans detained in Russia back.
Reed was released in a prisoner exchange for Russian drug trafficker Konstantin Yaroshenko after more than two years behind bars, though the administration was unable to secure the release of WNBA superstar Brittney Griner or Paul Whelan, both of whom the government considers wrongfully detained.
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“I can’t say 100% what the White House is or is not doing — that’s obviously not public information,” Reed said in a teaser clip of an upcoming NBC interview. “But, in my opinion, the White House has the ability to get them out extremely fast, and they clearly have chosen not to do that. So no, in my opinion, they’re not doing enough.”
Earlier this month, Griner pleaded guilty to drug charges after being arrested on Feb. 17 and has been detained ever since. She faces a 10-year prison sentence in a judicial system that overwhelmingly results in convictions.
Whelan was arrested in late 2018 and was later convicted of espionage, charges that he still denies. He was sentenced to 16 years in prison in 2020.
There has been speculation that another prisoner swap could result in Whelan and Griner’s freedom. Russia has repeatedly sought the release of Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, who is serving a 25-year prison sentence after he was arrested in Bangkok in a sting led by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency.
Bout’s lawyer, Steve Zissou, told the Washington Examiner earlier this month that he believes Russia would give up both Whelan and Griner for Bout.
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Reed also said he’s “extremely grateful that President Joe Biden made that decision to get me out,” which he called “the ethical decision.”
“He ultimately makes that decision — that decision has to come from the top. And, you know, I’m grateful for that. And I appreciate that,” he added. “But I think that, you know, he has the responsibility to continue doing the right thing.”
