HOMECOMING: Biden and Harris Receive Prisoners In Historic Swap
BIDEN ON ALLIES ASSISTING WITH PRISONER SWAP: "They stepped up and took a chance for us."
By Mona Austin
Just around midnight in Maryland, on a dark landing strip at Joint Base Andrews, family members of American detained in Russia cried puddles of tears while erupting with cheers of joy as their loved ones arrived back in the biggest prison swap between the United States Russia since the Cold War. President joe Biden had secured their freedom in a triumph of diplomacy. Seven countries were involved in the deal that led to the release of 4 wrongfully-detained individuals (3 American citizens and 1 a green-card holder)--former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan and journalists Alsu Kurmasheva and Evan Gershkovich. They were a part of a 16 person swap for 8 Russian nationals.
Vice President Kamala Harris joined Pres. Joe Biden for the welcome saying it was the outcome of "having a president who understand diplomacy."
Speaking on the tarmac Evan Gershgovich, one of the most high profile detainees was elated to be back and swept his mother off her feet when seeing her for the first tine in over a year. Even in that moment of personal relief his thoughts went to those left behind, some of whom were supporters of late Russian opposition leader Alexa Nevalny. He told reporters he wants to speak to someone soon about helping the prisoner that are still in Russia.
The freed Americans are at Brook Army Medical Center for medical evaluations in San Antonio, Texas.
For 5 year and 7 months Paul Wheland was jailed and said it became real when they flew over England and it was nice to be greeted by the president and vice president. Biden took a flag pin from his lapel and pinned it on him.
The family of Marc Fogel, another American being held in Russia is disappointed that he was not in the group that came Back. Pres. Joe Biden and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan have both said they are still working on his release. Sullivan had said in a White house press briefing that was the swap was the “culmination of many rounds of complex painstaking negotiations over many, many months.”
In his remarks at the White House during the day when he made the announcement that the deal was sealed and some Russian detainees were coming home Pres. Biden talked about the U.S. having good relationships in the world being a factor in recovering them.
Taking questions from a gaggle of reporters he said, "It feels wonderful. Remember alliances make a difference. " He said the "toughest call was for Germany and Slovenia. "I asked them to do things that were not in their self-interest."
In response to the joyous news, former President Donald Trump and his running mate JD Vance both says it's a testament the expectation from "bad guys" that Donald Trump is about to be back in office "so they are cleaning house." There is no proof that world leaders were influenced by election year politics of a potential shift on the leadership in the U.S. Trump was critical of the exchange saying they release criminals and when he got hostages returned he did not have to pay. CNN has verified the latter claim is false.
"If you can't love your country during a joyous moment like this, you can't led it," said California Democrat Eric Swalwell in an appearance on CNN Friday morning.
