full of patients. For the pbs
newshour, I'm Nick schifrin
Nick: Now for more --
amna: Now for more on that
prisoner swap, and other
Americans held in Russia, I'm
joined by state department
spokesperson Ned price.
Welcome back to the newshour.
I want to ask you about the
timing of that swap because
Trevor reed had been held by the
Russians for almost three years.
Era Sanko had been in the U.S.
For many years, so wide today?
Ned: Ever since this
administration came into office,
we have had a commitment to
secure the release of Americans
unjustly detained around the
world.
We have done it in Haiti, Burma,
and now Russia.
Because of months of
discussions, Trevor reed is on
route to see his family in the
United States after nearly three
years of separation.
This is something we have worked
on for quite some time.
The president was presented with
a difficult decision but it is a
decision he decided to make
because Trevor has been held
apart from his family for far
too long.
His deteriorating health was of
concern for us so as a result of
what the president decided,
Trevor reed is headed home.
Amna: Other Americans in custody
include Paul Whelan, who has
been accused of spying, Brittney
Griner, the wnba star, also
vladimira, a Russian citizen but
a green card holder in the U.S..
His wife and kids are Americans.
Did any of their names come up
in these talks?
Ned: We are always working to
secure the release of Americans
held unjustly around the world
and that includes Russia.
Today we had a successful
outcome but our work isn't
finished.
We are continuing to do
everything we can to see the
prompt release of Paul Whelan.
It is something we have called
for for months.
We are doing everything we can
to support Brittney Griner to
see to it we have regular access
to her.
A senior official was able to
visit her in recent weeks.
We are working with the Russian
government on her case to see to
it we have regular access to her
and she is being treated fairly
and afforded due process.
Amna: Could this be a model for
her release?
Ned: Each case is unique so I
don't want to compare one
individual to the case of
someone else, but we are always
working around-the-clock to see
the release of Americans were
unjustly detained.
Amna: Let me ask you about
another American detained in
Afghanistan since 2020.
The U.S. Withdrew without
negotiating his release and the
Taliban want a swap, the release
of an Afghan drug trafficker in
U.S. Custody.
The family says they want that.
Senator Tammy Duckworth says
they should do the deal.
Why hasn't the U.S. Done that
deal?
Ned: We are speaking regularly
with the family and the
lawmakers.
The message we are sending to
the Taliban is a simple one.
You cannot have improved
relations with the United States
as long as you hold an American
hostage.
That's what they are doing.
Every engagement we have with
the Taliban, we make that
message clear.
Amna: You are saying that deal
won't be done to free him, the
U.S. Will not do the deal with
the drug trafficker.
Ned: I'm saying we are working
on his case around-the-clock,
just as we are with other
Americans unjustly detained.
The same ambassador Carson's who
today was instrumental in the
successful release of Trevor
reed is working this case.
Tom west, our special envoy for
Afghanistan, is working this
case.
We are going to do everything we
can to see to it that mark is
promptly reunited with his
family.
Amna: We are talking at an time
that there has been an increase
in wrongful detention of
Americans by other nations.
There are more than 40 Americans
wrongfully detained overseas.
Are you concerned any of these
swaps encourages other nations
to detain Americans more,
knowing they can hold onto them
for leverage?
Ned: You have to evaluate each
case for its merits and the
merits of this case were
compelling.
An American unjustly detained
for nearly three years who was
not receiving the medical
attention he needed at the time.
The president was confronted
with a difficult decision and
because of that Trevor reed is
on his way home.
What we are doing with our
partners and allies is trying to
establish and reinforce a norm
against taking private, foreign
citizens hostage as political
pawns.
We have seen states do this,
Russia, Iran, Venezuela, other
countries.
We are clear there are
consequences for this, that
nothing can be gained from the
taking of individuals, of third
country nationals, and trying to
use them as pawns.
The Canadian government has been
instrumental but it is something
we are working with partners
around the world to reinforce.
Amna: Thank you for your time.
Nick schifrin has just learned
from senior administration
officials that Trevor reads
cellmate died of tuberculosis
and reed was coughing blood
before his release.
Paul Whelan's captors reportedly
awakened him every few hours.
The case of Brittney Griner is