“The possibility of a Bout-for-Whelan trade existed back then,” said Bolton, 74, “and it wasn’t made, for very good reasons having to deal with Viktor Bout.” WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump shot down Russian attempts to trade former Marine Paul Whelan for “Merchant of Death” arms dealer Viktor Bout, former national security adviser John Bolton said Thursday - as Trump ripped his successor for agreeing to send Bout home in exchange for the return of WNBA star Brittney Griner.īolton recalled in an interview with CBS that he was in the midst of his 17-month tenure at the White House when Whelan was detained on concocted espionage charges in December 2018. ‘Merchant of Death’ Viktor Bout runs for political office in Russia "How do you continue to survive, day after day, when you know that your government has failed twice to free you from a foreign prison?" David Whelan asked.‘Merchant of Death’ Viktor Bout reveals what he told WNBA star Britney Griner during prisoner swapĪmerican already jailed in Russia for bribery now charged with spyingīrittney Griner away from road-tripping Mercury due to mental health reasons government Thursday to "be more assertive" by ensuring a "swifter, more direct response" when Russia arrests an innocent American. "He deserves better from his government, and our Campaign implores President Biden to urgently secure Paul's immediate return using all tools available."ĭavid Whelan called on the U.S. "Paul Whelan has been let down and left behind at least three times by 2 Presidents," the group said in a statement. The Bring Our Families Home Campaign, an organization that advocates on behalf of Americans who are being wrongfully detained overseas, celebrated Griner's homecoming but stressed that Whelan's case remains urgent. (Reed's family maintained his innocence.) While the release of Reed, who was sentenced to nine years in prison after Russian authorities said he assaulted an officer in a night of heavy drinking, was seen as a diplomatic victory for the U.S., the Biden administration maintained that Whelan was a high priority. official would say Thursday only that diplomatic channels remain open. It was unclear what he bases that on, and a senior U.S. Zherebenkov said that negotiations for Whelan continue and that he could be freed in an exchange with Russia in the next couple of months. Whelan's Russian lawyer, Vladimir Zherebenkov, also said that the deal was an exchange of "one to one" and that choosing Griner, 32, appeared "more humane" because she is a woman and an Olympic champion, while Whelan was in the military and it is "easier for him to be in custody." official was able to speak with Whelan from prison Thursday and inform him about the outcome of the negotiations. The official said that Whelan's sister was informed Wednesday about the process to release Griner, a player for the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury, and that another senior U.S. But the official said that Russia has treated Whelan differently because he is accused of spying and that the Kremlin ultimately gave the White House the choice of Griner or no one after different options were proposed. government had sought to have both Griner and Whelan released as part of a swap with the Kremlin, which wanted the return of Viktor Bout, a Russian arms dealer who has served 11 years of a 25-year sentence in the U.S. It has always been a strong possibility that one might be freed without the other."Ī senior U.S. "As I have often remarked, Brittney's and Paul's cases were never really intertwined. "It is so important to me that it is clear that we do not begrudge Ms.
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