AUSTIN (KXAN) – State leaders are sharing their reactions to the news Wednesday that Russia will free Texas Marine veteran Trevor Reed in a prisoner swap with the United States.
President Joe Biden issued a statement announcing that Reed will return home after his arrest in 2019 for allegedly attacking a Moscow police officer. Biden credited negotiations that “required difficult decisions that I do not take lightly.” He also mentioned Reed’s parents, whom he met last month during a private meeting at the White House.
“His safe return is a testament to the priority my Administration places on bringing home Americans held hostage and wrongfully detained abroad,” Biden said in his statement. “We will not stop until Paul Whelan and others join Trevor in the loving arms of family and friends.”
cane the family issued a statement on Twitter saying their prayers are answered that they will soon be reunited with him at his home in Texas.
“First of all, we would like to thank President Biden for his kindness, his thoughtfulness, and for making the decision to bring Trevor home,” Reed’s family said. “The president’s actions may have saved Trevor’s life.”
They also thanked several Texas lawmakers for working together on both sides of the aisle to secure his release, including Rep. August Pfluger, who represents his district. Pfluger sent a statement of his own on Wednesday along with sharing a photo of the former Marine with the words “Trevor Reed is free” written in red, white and blue on it.
“The Reeds have been living through a two-and-a-half-year nightmare fighting for their son’s release,” Pfluger’s statement read. “Today, our prayers have been answered. I look forward to welcoming Trevor safely home.”
Rep. Michael McCaul, the ranking Republican on the House Foreign Relations Committee, sent a statement declaring how “full of joy and relief” this news made him.
“I had the opportunity to meet his family as they worked tirelessly to get him released,” McCaul said. “Joey and Paula never gave up hope that their son would be freed from his unjust incarceration. Today is that day.”
Senator John Cornyn said Reed survived a “real-life nightmare” after spending nearly 1,000 days in detention in Russia, which his family said raised serious concerns about his health and well-being.
“I am beyond relieved that Trevor is returning home to his family in Texas, who were tireless in the fight to secure his release and never gave up hope,” Cornyn said. “I applaud the President and State Department officials who worked behind the scenes to secure Trevor’s release, as well as Congressmen Pfluger and McCaul for their efforts to keep up the pressure on the Administration.”
Senator Ted Cruz also posted on Twitter that Russia should release other Americans. “those who continue to be detained unjustly.”
“I am relieved that Trevor Reed has been released from his unjust detention by Russia,” Cruz wrote Wednesday. “This Marine will now be reunited with his family and will receive the medical treatment that he needs. Ambassador John Sullivan is to be commended for the invaluable work he did to free Trevor.”
Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin, wrote on Twitter, “Welcoming home Texan Trevor Reed, freed after years of incarceration in Russia and after the tireless work of our advocates for our citizens wrongfully held abroad. Let’s celebrate his wonderful homecoming and keep up the efforts to bring Brittney Griner and others home as well.”
Greg Casar, the Democratic congressional candidate for Texas’ 35th District, said in an interview with KXAN on Wednesday morning that, if elected, he would work with the Texas delegation to push for the release of other Americans in Russia.
“I think this is a bipartisan issue where we can all come together and work hard to bring home these two Americans who are in danger and unnecessarily imprisoned in Russia, especially coming from Texas like Ms. Griner,” Casar said. “I think it’s very important for us to bring members of the Texas Congress together to advocate for all Americans there and especially to bring Texans home, like Mr. Reed and Ms. Griner, and that’s my commitment.” .
Reed’s family said in their statement that he will eventually be able to share his story about what happened, but the most immediate concern for them will center around his condition now. They said they are asking for privacy as they “address the myriad of health issues caused by the appalling conditions he was subjected to in his Russian gulag.”
Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan
The announcement of Reed’s release drew attention to the cases of two other notable Americans who are still being held in Russia.
Paul Whelan, a Michigan security executive, has been held on espionage charges since late 2018. A Russian court has repeatedly extended his detention in a packed Moscow prison as he awaits trial on charges that carry a sentence of up to 20 years.
Reed’s family named Whelan’s loved ones in their statement released Wednesday, saying they are still “proud” of them.
“We will continue to advocate for the speedy release of hostages and detainees using every tool available to the United States government,” their statement read.
Meanwhile, Brittney Griner’s name was trending on social media on Wednesday. The star WNBA player and two-time Olympic gold medalist has been held in Russia for two months after Russian authorities said a search of her luggage revealed vape cartridges alleged to contain cannabis-derived oil, which could lead to a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. Some of her teammates began speaking publicly about her concern for her safety after initially remaining relatively quiet in hopes of avoiding damaging her case.
Twitter users questioned why President Biden’s statement on Wednesday did not mention his case in his statement announcing the prisoner swap for Reed’s release.
Rep. McCaul mentioned both Griner and Whelan in his statement, saying the Russian government “continues to unjustly imprison American citizens.”
“It is time for Putin to stop using Americans as political pawns and also hand over Whelan and Griner to their families,” he said.
Reference-www.kxan.com