Jessica Yellin Instagram – BIDEN ADDRESSES PRISONER SWAP
The White House published a photo of freed American prisoners returning home. President Biden met with families of these Americans freed from imprisonment in Russia in a prisoner swap today.
The released Americans are Evan Gershkovich, 32, a WSJ reporter detained for 16 months; Paul Whelan, 54, a former US Marine detained since 2018; Alsu Kurmasheva, 47, a Russian American editor for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty detained in 2023; and permanent resident Vladimir Kara-Murza, 42, a journalist and dissident arrested in 2022.
The WSJ reports that after Biden made the decision to withdraw from the presidential race, he took steps to finalize this deal in the hours before his announcement. It was a choice to ensure their return before declaring his political fate.
Biden said that “their brutal ordeal is over, and they’re free.” He also noted 70 Americans who have been unjustly detained were released during his presidency. He said he spoke with the newly released Americans and wished them a “happy almost-home.”
National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan called the operation “one of the largest and certainly one of the most complex exchanges in history” and said he didn’t think it would have happened “if you had not had Joe Biden sitting in the Oval Office.” | Posted on 01/Aug/2024 23:51:40
