The U.S. special envoy who helped secure WNBA star Brittney Griner’s release from Russian custody said he spoke to detained American Paul Whelan and assured him “we’re coming to get you.”
Roger Carstens, the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, told CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday he was in touch with Whelan on Friday, the day after Griner was freed by Moscow in a prisoner exchange for a Russian arms dealer. Carstens said Whelan “shared his frustration” that he wasn’t included in the swap.
“I explained to him that ‘all this was a case where it was either one or none. We weren’t able to get you out of this go round,’” he said. Carstens said he told Whelan to “keep the faith. We’re coming to get you.”
