Paul and David Whelan, twins born in Canada who grew up in the United States, spent their 49th birthdays earlier this month very differently.
David Whelan told Yahoo News that the family is pleased with the attention from the State Department’s Moscow consular service, but has barely heard any new information from U.S. officials in Washington. “It’s mind-boggling,” he said during an interview with Yahoo News. “The embassy and administration may be trying to appease and accommodate the Russians to see if it works, and may be holding off on escalation to see if it works,” he said.
Most recently, the Russian court system extended Whelan’s detention three more months to allow for further investigation. Additionally, the family has been in touch with congressional offices, which, after some pressure, have begun publishing more statements in support of Whelan. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., posted a tweet in honor of Paul Whelan’s birthday, advocating for his release, and Rep. Eliot Engel, D-N.Y., the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, put out a press release demanding Whelan have access to consular officials, an attorney of his choice, and his family.
There has also been discussion, on the part of the Russian attorney representing Whelan, as well as other U.S. experts, speculating that Whelan could be traded for a prisoner Russia is interested in bringing back home. Russian officials have repeatedly called for the release of Maria Butina, who pled guilty to being an unregistered foreign agent, and, according to court records, is still assisting U.S. officials in ongoing cases.
The Whelan family has secured the pro bono assistance from Ryan Fayhee, a former Department of Justice attorney from within the counterespionage division. Fayhee tells Yahoo he was led to work with the Whelans because “they just frankly weren’t getting what they needed.”