Biden to Meet With , Families of Russian Detainees , Griner and Whelan.<br />On September 16, President Joe Biden <br />will meet with the families of Brittney Griner <br />and Paul Whelan at the White House. .<br />CNN reports that this is <br />the first time Biden has met <br />with the families in person. .<br />CNN reports that this is <br />the first time Biden has met <br />with the families in person. .<br />According to White House press secretary <br />Karine Jean-Pierre, Biden will meet <br />with Griner's wife and Whelan's sister.<br />According to White House press secretary <br />Karine Jean-Pierre, Biden will meet <br />with Griner's wife and Whelan's sister.<br />Jean-Pierre says that Biden hopes to assure the families that the release of their loved ones remains "front of mind" for his administration.<br />One of the things that the president <br />wanted to make clear is, and one of the <br />reasons he's meeting with the families, <br />is that he wanted to let them know that <br />they remain front of mind and that his <br />team is working on this every day, <br />on making sure that Brittney <br />and Paul return home safely, Karine Jean-Pierre, White House press secretary, via CNN.<br />In February, Griner was detained after <br />vape cartridges containing cannabis <br />oil were found in her luggage.<br />She was then sentenced <br />to nine years in prison and ordered <br />to pay a fine of about $16,400.<br />Paul Whelan has been imprisoned in Russia for <br />over three years after being convicted of espionage <br />charges which he has vehemently denied.<br />Paul Whelan has been imprisoned in Russia for <br />over three years after being convicted of espionage <br />charges which he has vehemently denied.<br />In June of 2020, he was sentenced <br />to 16 years in prison following <br />a trial denounced as unfair.<br />CNN reports that the Biden administration has <br />offered to exchange convicted Russian arms dealer <br />Viktor Bout as part of a trade for Griner and Whelan.<br />CNN reports that the Biden administration has <br />offered to exchange convicted Russian arms dealer <br />Viktor Bout as part of a trade for Griner and Whelan.<br />While I would love to say that the purpose <br />of this meeting is to inform the families <br />that the Russians have accepted our offer <br />and we are bringing their loved ones <br />home, that is not what we're seeing <br />in these negotiations at this time, Karine Jean-Pierre, White House press secretary, via CNN.<br />While I would love to say that the purpose <br />of this meeting is to inform the families <br />that the Russians have accepted our offer <br />and we are bringing their loved ones <br />home, that is not what we're seeing <br />in these negotiations at this time, Karine Jean-Pierre, White House press secretary, via CNN
