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Family Of Marine Veteran Held In Russian Prison Urges Biden To ‘Do Something,’ Say He ‘Feels Left Behind’

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The family of Trevor Reed, a Marine veteran who has been detained in a Russian prison for over two years, is urging President Biden to secure the American’s release.

Reed’s parents have said their son’s health has been deteriorating due to the harsh prison conditions and noting he “likely has tuberculosis.”

Trevor’s family says Russian police accused him of assaulting an officer in August 2019 a week before he was supposed to return home. They claim the charges are fabricated.

After a ‘trial,’ Reed was sentenced to 9 years in prison.

This week President Biden was in North Texas and his family camped out to try to get him.

They were ultimately unsuccessful, with Fox News reporting that: “His parents were denied a visit with Biden as bilateral relations between Washington and Moscow continue to erode.”

They were still happy that at least they received an ancillary acknowledgment of their participation in the event.

“They drove by faster than I thought he would. But Biden gave me a nod and pointed at me, so he acknowledged us, and I feel great,” Trevor’s mother Paula Reed said.

“I feel he saw me, so that made it worth it, standing in the cold,” she added. “We wanted to get his attention, and I think we did that.”

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Russian Prisoner of Marines

In Texas, President Biden talked about his Unity Agenda for Veterans Support. One of the “big things” he outlined that Americans can do “is supporting our veterans — fully supporting them.”

Prior to that visit, Reed’s family urged the President to “put his money where his mouth is and do something for these veterans who’ve done nothing wrong and are wasting their lives in a Russian jail.”

Reed worked as a Marine security officer at Camp David while Biden was Vice-President.

“Our son protected [Biden] at Camp David when he was vice president,” said the Marine veteran’s father, Joey Reed.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters that while they didn’t connect on this visit, the administration is “working on a time for the President to meet with his family over the short term.”

Family DidGet a call from President Biden to talk with their son. In the call, according to Stars and Stripes, Biden told the family he “can’t imagine what you all are going through” and claimed “he said a Rosary for Trevor today on the way here.”

Trevor’s sister, Taylor Reed, says that while they received a phone call from Biden, a separate phone conversation with her brother indicates he feels left behind by the American government.

It “was obviously a pleasant surprise to get a call to know that he’s OK,” Taylor said. “After 232 days not hearing from him at all. It was really hard. He’s extremely discouraged. He’s super sad. He feels left behind. He feels forgotten.”

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Trump secured the release of prisoners

Joey Reed, Trevor’s father, blasted President Biden, saying his son put his life on the line to protect him when he served during the Obama administration.

“Our son would have given his life for you and they (the Russians) want to trade. … If that’s what they want, you need to do that before our son dies of tuberculosis,” Joey told Stars and Stripes.

After that, he outlined some things he’d tell Biden if he was granted permission to meet.

“He was willing to die for you. The least you could do is trade a drug dealer who’s already been here for 10 years and is going to be home and out before Trevor,” Joey Reed said. “That’s a few things I would tell Biden.”

Trump, the former President of the United States, has repeatedly announced that he had secured the release of inmates from other countries.

Andrew Brunson was a U.S. Pastor who had been held in Turkey on unproven terror-related charges for many years. He was freed in 2018. His lawyer thanked Trump for his cooperation in negotiations.

In May of 2018, thanks to his hardball negotiating style, Trump saw North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un release three Americans that were imprisoned in his rogue country.

In 2017, an American woman, her Canadian husband, and their three young children all born in captivity, were rescued from a Taliban-linked group in Pakistan.

Reed has been languishing in a Russian prison for years and you’ve likely not heard his story until now. Brittney Griner (WNBA Basketball Star) has been in Russia since three weeks. She was arrested for allegedly carrying marijuana oil in her baggage.

You’ve most likely heard her story.