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Biden says administration still working on Paul Whelan release

US President Joe Biden speaks to members of the media while visiting the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) with Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, right, on Aug. 31, 2023.
Tia Dufour
/
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
U.S. President Joe Biden speaks to members of the media while visiting the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) with Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, right, on Aug. 31, 2023.

As the U.S. helps negotiate the release of hostages held in the Gaza strip, the family of a Michigan man imprisoned in Russia say they hope he is not being forgotten. Quinn Klinefelter has more.

Novi native Paul Whelan has been in Russian custody for almost five years on espionage charges he vehemently denies.

U.S. officials say he’s been wrongfully detained.

And on Thanksgiving, President Biden said the U.S. is still seeking Whelan’s release, even as it helps broker deals to free hostages held by Hamas.

“We ain’t giving up,” said Biden.

Whelan’s family says he indicates there are no doctors left at the labor camp where he’s serving a 16-year sentence, the prison barracks are without heat, and water is not consistently available.

Quinn Klinefelter is a host and Senior News Editor for 101.9 WDET, anchoring midday newscasts and preparing reports for WDET, NPR and the BBC.