SC’s Graham celebrates Griner’s release, but calls Whelan’s jailing ‘bitter pill to swallow’

South Carolina’s senior U.S. senator joined the celebrations Thursday for the release of top WNBA player Brittney Griner from a Russian prison, but called it “a bitter pill to swallow” knowing that Paul Whelan still remains jailed in Russia for nearly four years.

Whelan, a corporate security executive from Michigan, has been held in a Russian prison since December 2018 on espionage charges. In 2020, he was sentenced to 16 years in prison.

President Joe Biden announced Griner’s release from Russia early Thursday. Her release was part of a negotiated swap between the two countries that also resulted in the release of Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, nicknamed “the Merchant of Death,” who was a former Soviet Army colonel serving a 25-year U.S. prison sentence.

Griner’s release from Russia comes amid tensions between the U.S. and Russia over Russia’s war in Ukraine.

“She’s safe, she’s on a plane, she’s on her way home,” Biden tweeted. He later spoke from the White House, standing with Cherelle Griner, Griner’s wife.

Griner was arrested back in February at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport when customs officials said they found vape canisters with cannabis oil in her luggage. In July, Griner pleaded guilty to the charges, saying she had no criminal intent. She was later sentenced and taken to a Russian penal colony, reportedly known for extremely harsh conditions.

“While we appreciate and celebrate the release of Brittney Griner from a Russian penal colony — held on trumped up charges and facing an excessive sentence — we must not lose focus on the fact that Paul Whelan remains unjustly held in Russia,” Graham tweeted.

“Paul is a former Marine who has been unjustly accused of spying for the United States. It is a bitter pill to swallow that Mr. Whelan remains in custody while we release the ‘Merchant of Death’ Viktor Bout back to Russia,” he added.

Whelan was not included in the prisoner swap with Bout, though earlier reports had suggested that the Biden administration had made efforts to swap Bout for both Griner and Whelan.

Whelan’s brother, David Whelan, said in a statement shared with media that the family does “not begrudge Ms. Griner her freedom,” but said his brother’s continued imprisonment remains difficult to process.

“Sadly, for totally illegitimate reasons, Russia is treating Paul’s case differently than Brittney’s,” Biden said Thursday from the White House. “And while we have not yet succeeded in securing Paul’s release, we are not giving up. We will never give up.”

Other notable South Carolinians also reacted to Griner’s release Thursday, including Dawn Staley, coach of the University of South Carolina women’s basketball team.

Staley, who tweeted every day for Griner’s release, tweeted Thursday, “God’s grace is SUFFICIENT! @brittneygriner is home! I love you BG!”

Staley, who has known Griner for 10 years, coached Griner in the 2020 Olympics and 2018 FIBA Women’s World Cup.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.