That was a surprise,” David Whelan told NPR’s Noel King. “The bad conduct discharge was news to us this week in the family. But he received a bad conduct discharge in 2008 on a charge of larceny - circumstances that were not previously known to his closest relatives, according to Whelan’s twin brother. Marine reservist who rose to the rank of staff sergeant during 14 years of service, including two deployments in Iraq. Whelan even know what was on it? And the whole thing seems kind of very made-for-TV.” “The problem,” Maynes added, “is that skeptics feel that - look, it was a flash drive in 2019. The account by Rosbalt has not been reported in other media and has generated some skepticism. Hints of the case against Whelan emerged Thursday when the Russian Rosbalt news agency described Whelan’s arrest in his hotel.Īs reporter Charles Maynes told NPR from Moscow, Rosbalt cited a source within Russia’s special services in reporting that Whelan had been “caught essentially receiving a flash drive contained names of Russian intelligence agents in his Metropol Hotel room. “Individuals should not be used as pawns of diplomatic leverage,” the U.K.’s Hunt said Friday. to release Maria Butina, the Russian operative who recently pleaded guilty to conspiracy to act as a foreign agent on American soil without registering. The arrest quickly drew speculation that Russia and its president, Vladimir Putin, might seek to use Whelan as a bargaining chip to force the U.S. In the time since Whelan’s detention was made public, several governments have acted on his behalf, bringing to light his ties to countries other than the U.S. 28, and then waited several days before declaring it had snared Whelan in the middle of a spy mission. Russia’s Federal Security Service arrested him Dec. Whelan, 48, lives in Michigan, where he is in charge of global security for automotive components supplier BorgWarner. His family says Whelan is not a spy - and that he was visiting Russia only to attend a wedding.ĬNN, citing Whelan’s lawyer in Russia, Vladimir Zherebenkov, reported that Whelan “has been charged and detained … since the day of his arrest.” Zherebenkov said his client was being held without bail, which he called “excessive and unwarranted,” and said he was seeking bail. Whelan is being held in Moscow’s Lefortovo prison, accused by Russia of trying to steal official secrets. Due to the provisions of the Privacy Act, no further information can be disclosed.” Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement: “The Embassy of Ireland in Moscow has requested consular access to an Irish citizen currently detained in Russia after receiving a request for assistance,” according to Irish state broadcaster RTE.Īnd Canada’s CBC News says it received a statement from the government’s Global Affairs Canada, saying, “Consular officials are aware that a Canadian citizen has been arrested in Russia. “British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said he was extremely worried about Whelan and that the United Kingdom needed to see the case” against him, NPR’s Frank Langfitt reports from London. At least three countries have confirmed that they have requested consular access to Whelan: The U.S., Britain and Ireland say they’re working to support him in detention and ensure his rights are respected. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison. Whelan was born in Canada and has since gained citizenship in the U.S., Britain and Ireland. Marine Paul Whelan as he remains in a Moscow prison over allegations of espionage. Embassies of several countries are trying to assist ex-U.S.
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