Biden to meet with families of Russian detainees Griner and Whelan

Russia "should accept our offer today" for a prisoner exchange to free Griner and Whelan, the White House press secretary said.

By Madeleine Hubbard

Published: September 15, 2022 3:10pm

Updated: September 16, 2022 2:00pm

President Joe Biden plans on meeting Friday with the families of WNBA star Brittney Griner and former Marine Paul Whelan.

Russia "should accept our offer today" for a prisoner exchange to free Griner and Whelan, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Thursday in announcing the meeting.

Experts have speculated that the White House proposed trading convicted Russian arms trafficker Viktor Bout for the two Americans.

Griner, 31, was sentenced to nine years in a Russian prison last month after cannabis vape cartridges were reportedly found in her luggage at a Moscow-area airport earlier this year.

Whelan, 50, was arrested nearly four years ago in Russia. He was convicted of espionage and sentenced to 16 years of hard labor, his twin brother, David, told Just the News in 2020.

"We believe that Russia is wrongfully detaining Brittney and Paul under intolerable circumstances," Jean-Pierre also said Thursday. "As you know, we have been directly engaged with the Russian government through appropriate channels."