David Whelan, whose brother Paul has been detained by Russia for several years including the latter half of the Trump administration, posted comments on Twitter sharply critical of Trump last Friday after the former president tried to use Paul’s case to criticize the Biden administration’s handling of basketball player Brittany Griner’s detention in Russia.
The Biden team recently secured Griner’s release in exchange for a convicted Russian arms dealer, and some — from Trump to Fox News White House correspondent Peter Doocy — have been sharply critical of the prisoner exchange. Falsely alleging that Griner “openly hates our Country,” Trump added: “Why wasn’t former Marine Paul Whelan included in this totally one-sided transaction? He would have been let out for the asking. What a “stupid” and unpatriotic embarrassment for the USA!!!” David responded with the following after the ex-president’s comments: “Former President Trump appears to have mentioned my brother #PaulWhelan‘s wrongful detention more in the last 24 hours than he did in the 2 years of his presidency in which Paul was held hostage by #Russia (zero). I don’t suggest he cares now any more than he did then (zero).”
A sister of Paul has also recently publicly spoken about his situation. Asked a leading question by a right-wing media host about why the president’s team would treat Griner and Whelan differently, implying the White House just wasn’t interested in securing Paul’s release from Russia, Elizabeth Whelan instead replied: “Well, unfortunately it’s really Russia’s fault overall. From the time that Paul was arrested, Russia put him in a different category, and even though both the Trump administration and the Biden administration tried to get Paul back… the Russians insisted on dividing [the detained Americans] up and trying to have a different deal for Paul and ask for something different. And my feeling is they purposefully separated out Brittany Griner and the deal for her because they knew how much trouble it would cause.”
Contrary to implications from Trump, the Biden administration didn’t just not ask about Whelan’s release. Rather, indications are that Russian authorities are significantly more apprehensive at the prospect of releasing him. Whelan was accused of spying for the United States in Russia, while Griner faced drug allegations. She was carrying hashish oil for vaping that a lawyer representing her in Russia said she’d been recommended by a doctor in the U.S. for pain. Although cannabis and cannabis-derived products are obviously widely used and permitted for use in the U.S., the oil is banned in Russia. Griner was facing potentially dangerous conditions in the penal colony where she could have spent years if not for the Biden team’s intervention. Those subject to detention in these facilities face brutal work camp conditions in most if not all circumstances, without a guarantee throughout detention of necessary protections from the elements or other threats and under the possibility of violence from those in charge.
Former President Trump appears to have mentioned my brother #PaulWhelan's wrongful detention more in the last 24 hours than he did in the 2 years of his presidency in which Paul was held hostage by #Russia (zero). I don't suggest he cares now any more than he did then (zero) https://t.co/7lnSF0zJxL
— David Whelan (@davidpwhelan) December 9, 2022
