President\u00a0Biden\u00a0is under increasing pressure to secure the release of\u00a0Paul Whelan,\u00a0a former Marine being held in Russia, following the release of WNBA star\u00a0Brittney Griner\u00a0in a trade for the Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout.<\/p>\n
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The Whelan family has voiced support for the president\u2019s efforts to sure Paul Whelan\u2019s release, but Biden has come under criticism from Republicans and former President Trump for both not winning Whelan\u2019s freedom and for trading Bout for Griner.<\/p>\n
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\u201cBiden\u2019s now aiding both sides of the war,\u201d tweeted Rep.\u00a0Kevin Hern\u00a0(R-Okla.), suggesting the newly freed Bout could help Russian President\u00a0Vladimir Putin\u00a0source arms for use in his country\u2019s war with Ukraine.<\/p>\n
Trump, a potential presidential opponent for Biden if he runs for reelection in 2024, has sought to put on the pressure.<\/p>\n
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Trump on Sunday said he turned down a deal to release Whelan in exchange for Bout, saying he wouldn\u2019t have made the deal to bring back a hundred people for him.<\/p>\n
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In response,\u00a0David Whelan,\u00a0Paul Whelan\u2019s brother, accused the Trump administration of not appearing interested in the case, adding that the Biden administration is \u201cmuch more engaged in wrongful detentions.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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