Russia and the United States have exchanged prisoners.
U.S. officials says Russia released a Marine veteran jailed in Moscow while the U.S. released a convicted Russian drug trafficker serving a prison sentence in Connecticut.
Wednesday's surprise exchange was done as Russia's war with Ukraine has driven relations with the U.S. to their lowest point in decades.
Russia gave up Trevor Reed, a Marine from Granbury, Texas arrested in 2019 after Russian authorities said he assaulted an officer.
The U.S. agreed to return Konstantin Yaroshenko, a Russian pilot who'd been serving a 20-year sentence for conspiracy to smuggle cocaine into the U.S.
While in the US Marine Corps during the Obama administration, Reed was part of a detail providing security at Camp David during times when then Vice President Biden was staying at the Presidential retreat.
Reed's parents, who live in Granbury, have been pushing for his release from the beginning but have ratcheted up their efforts in recent weeks with first a phone call with President Biden and then a visit to the White House seeking to have the President intervene in their son's case.
Reed's family thanks President Joe Biden for deciding ``to bring Trevor home.''
Related
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Sign Up and Follow NewsRadio 1080 KRLD