U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Saks), chairman on the House Armed Services Committee, reacted to the recent prisoner swap between U.S. and Russia, saying he’s “concerned” that it could set a bad precedent with Vladimir Putin.
Rogers Statement on Prisoner Swap with Russia
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Mike Rogers (R-AL), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, released a statement following a prisoner swap between the U.S., Russia, and U.S. allies.
“I am relieved that this ordeal…
— Armed Services GOP (@HASCRepublicans) August 1, 2024
President Joe Biden announced Thursday that Russia released journalist Evan Gershkovich, Marine Paul Whelan, and dissidents including Vladimir Kara-Murza, in a multinational deal that set two dozen people free.
Gershkovich is a reporter for The Wall Street Journal who was arrested in 2023 and convicted in July of espionage charges, sparking international condemnation.
“I am relieved that this ordeal for Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan, and the other prisoners wrongfully detained by the Putin regime has finally come to an end,” Rogers said. “However, I am concerned that in return for these innocent people, the Biden-Harris administration has allowed dangerous Russian criminals to go free, including an assassin and an operator of illicit procurement networks for the Russian military.”
This is not the first high profile prisoner swap with Russia during the Biden administration’s tenure. WNBA star Brittney Griner was eventually released in a similar swap after being arrested in 2022 for carrying a small amount of hash oil.
“Following the trade of Viktor Bout,” Rogers continued, “a dangerous arms dealer, for Brittney Griner, the Biden-Harris administration must explain how they will deter Putin and other American adversaries from exploiting hostage-taking to exact leverage over the United States. Otherwise, there will be many more innocent Americans behind enemy bars.”
According to the Wall Street Journal, Gershkovich and others released left a Russian aircraft in Turkey on Thursday afternoon.
Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on X @Yaffee
