Relatives of a U.S. Marine Corps veteran from Texas being held in a Russian jail met with President Joe Biden Wednesday to discuss the White House's efforts to secure his release.
Trevor Reed has been jailed in Russia since a 2019 arrest on charges that he assaulted Moscow police officers who were driving him to a police station after picking him up following a night of heavy drinking. The Marine vet was convicted and sentenced to nine years in prison. His parents, Joey and Paula, said the charges against him are false and that he is being unjustly held captive.
The White House said Reed, as well as Marine veteran Paul Whelan who is jailed in Russia on espionage-related charges, are both being wrongly detained.
Reed's parents spoke by phone with President Biden earlier this year when he visited Texas, but they had also requested an in-person meeting. They traveled to Washington, D.C. this week and staged a protest outside the White House. They were later invited inside by President Biden and had a meeting with him that lasted for more than half an hour.
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According to a statement issued by the White House, "the President reiterated his commitment to continue to work to secure the release of Trevor, Paul Whelan, and other Americans wrongfully held in Russia and elsewhere, and to provide all possible assistance until they and others are free and returned home to their families who are advocating so passionately for their release."
The statement also indicated the President's national security team would remain in contact with the Reeds to share updates on any progress toward his release.
Joey and Paula Reed will remain in Washington, D.C. today for meetings with members of the Texas Congressional delegation to discuss efforts to return their son to the United States.
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