![]() ![]() Some experts have speculated that Whelan’s arrest may be an attempt by Russian President Vladimir Putin to retaliate or set up a swap. Whelan’s detainment comes about two weeks after 30-year-old Russian national Maria Butina, who was arrested on charges of conspiracy and acting as an agent of a foreign government in July 2018, admitted to participating in a campaign backed by Russian officials to secretly influence US politics, including trying to sway the Republican Party to be more receptive to Russia. 2HIF1UmS1b- David Whelan January 1, 2019 While the law library + info focus will remain, you may see an increase in off-message topics until we get him safely home. My brother was detained by the Russian government on Friday as an alleged spy. In a statement, they said Whelan’s “innocence is undoubted.” Whelan’s family members, for their part, have dismissed allegations of espionage. ![]() “We’ve made clear to the Russians our expectation that we will learn more about the charges, come to understand what it is he’s been accused of, and if the detention is not appropriate, we will demand his immediate return,” Pompeo told reporters. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo briefly addressed Whelan’s detention during a trip to Brazil on Wednesday. ![]() Whelan is currently being held in one of Moscow’s most infamous prisons.Ī State Department spokesperson confirmed to Vox Wednesday that US Ambassador Jon Huntsman had visited Whelan, and said that Huntsman had been in touch with Whelan’s family. Russia’s domestic security services (FSB) initially said Whelan was apprehended while on a “spy mission,” and Russian media reported on Thursday that authorities have brought formal charges against him. Paul Whelan, a 48-year-old former Marine, was reportedly in Moscow to attend a wedding when he was detained on December 28. Russian authorities have formally charged an American with espionage, a move that could worsen already tense relations between the two countries. ![]()
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