U.S. Representative Mike Rogers (R-AL), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, released a statement following a prisonerswap between the U.S., Russia, and U.S. allies.
“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. 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. Following the trade of Viktor Bout, 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.”