After Trevor Reed Release, Marine Asks Why U.S. Hasn't Managed to Free Him

A man who has been held in Russia for more than three years is asking why the U.S. hasn't done more to arrange for his release after officials announced Wednesday that former U.S. Marine Trevor Reed had been freed as part of a prisoner exchange.

Paul Whelan was arrested in Moscow in December of 2018, and in 2020 was convicted of espionage and sentenced to 16 years in prison by a Russian court.

"Why was I left behind? While I am pleased Trevor is home with his family, I have been held on a fictitious charge of espionage for 40 months," Whelan told his family in a statement that his sister, Elizabeth Whelan, shared with Newsweek. "The world knows this charge was fabricated. Why hasn't more been done to secure my release."

In announcing Reed's return from Russia on Wednesday, President Joe Biden said: "We won't stop until Paul Whelan and others join Trevor in the loving arms of family and friends."

Reed, whom the U.S. said he had been unjustly detained, was arrested in 2019 after Russian authorities said he assaulted an officer while being driven by police to a police station. He was released in exchange for Russian citizen Konstantin Yaroshenko, who was serving a 20-year sentence for conspiracy to smuggle cocaine into the U.S.

In an interview with Newsweek on Thursday afternoon, Ryan Fayhee, an attorney for the Whelan family, said that while the Whelans are "genuinely relieved that Trevor is now back," the development "comes at a disappointment because everyone has to recognize the disproportionate nature" of the prisoner exchange.

He noted that Yaroshenko went through a "transparent" legal process in the U.S. and was convicted and sentenced by an impartial judge.

"And that's not something like Trevor Reed or Paul Whelan received in this instance," Fayhee said.

"Ultimately, the president made a decision and he's authorized to do so. But it was a very high price to pay to have not included Paul. And the concern comes if the U.S. government is willing to pay that price, what's it going to take ultimately for Paul?"

In a statement to Newsweek on Thursday, a spokesperson for the National Security Council said: "We will continue to advocate for Paul Whelan's immediate and unconditional release and the administration will continue to work to bring Paul home to his family."

In Wednesday's statement provided to Newsweek by Fayhee, the Whelan family said they are "full of happiness for the Reeds" following Trevor Reed's release. However, they added that "today is one of varied emotions in our family."

"I am glad that President Biden reiterated this morning his vow to bring Paul home. Because otherwise, it feels as though his pledge 'not to walk away' from Paul, given last summer in Geneva, feels hollow today," the family said. "We do not know what concession the US government has made to Russia for Trevor's release. But if this case required 'difficult decisions that' the President doesn't take lightly, how difficult are the decisions he faces to release Paul?"