President Biden on Friday reassured the sister of Paul Whelan that he is committed to bringing him home the former Marine who has been detained in Russia on spy charges since 2018.
The meeting followed stinging criticism from Mr. Whelan’s family that Mr. Biden was ignoring their plight.
In his conversation with Mr. Whelan’s sister, Elizabeth Whelan, Mr. Biden said the U.S. “will continue its efforts to secure the release of Paul as well as Brittney Griner and all other Americans who are held hostage or wrongfully detained around the world,” according to a statement from a White House official.