So what about Paul Whelan? Biden slammed for ignoring Marine and prioritizing Brittney Griner release

So what about Paul Whelan? Biden slammed for ignoring Marine and prioritizing Brittney Griner release
Joe Biden (C) was criticized for striking a prisoner swap deal with Russia to free Brittney Griner (R) but not working toward Paul Whelan's (L) release (9NEWS/ YouTube, Win McNamee/Getty Images, @nojumper/Twitter)

WASHINGTON DC: Brittney Griner was recently released from a Russian prison. President Joe Biden and his administration came under fire for the swap deal with Russia that freed the famous basketball player but left a former US Marine who has been held in the country for four years.

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Republicans in Congress and many who support Americans held captive abroad questioned the administration's choice to consent to a prisoner swap in which the US released Russian arms trader Viktor Bout in exchange for Griner. Critics claimed that as part of the swap deal, the Biden administration should have sought the release of former Marine Paul Whelan, who has been detained in Russia on espionage allegations. Top Republican on the House Armed Services Committee slammed the Biden administration for not working toward Whelan's release. Alabama Rep Mike Rogers remarked on Twitter, "While I welcome the release of Brittney Griner, I cannot help but think about Paul Whelan - as he has apparently been abandoned by the Biden administration."