PRESS SEC. KARINE JEAN PIERRE: "A ONE OR NONE CHOICE" IN GRINER RESCUE
By Mona Austin (The Slice): At the top of today's briefing following the Thursday morning release of Brittney Griner in a prison swap, reporters' attention was on the dismal outlook of detainee Paul Whelan's family. Griner was the only American exchanged for a Russian weapons dealer who was known to have plans to kill Americans. In a statement Whelan's family said that only securing Griner's release is "catosrrophic" for him while they are happy for her family and understood the Biden Administration did what was possible. Paul's brotger Whelabn said in a statement he coukd "literally only imagine the joy she will have, being reunited with her loved ones, and in time for the holidays." Press Secretary Karine Jean Pierre emphasized the U.S. government had exhausted all options in a "painstaking" process to get two Americans released. On Dec . 2 contact was made with Paul and he was "in good health." He has since been ...