Parents of ex-Marine held in Russia protest outside White House, demand Biden meet

Joey and Paula Reed, dad and mom of former Marine Trevor Reed who has been detained in Russia since 2019, protested exterior the White Home.
AP

The dad and mom of Trevor Reed, a former US Marine who has been detained in Russia since 2019, protested exterior of the White Home on Wednesday, calling for a gathering with President Biden they are saying was “promised.” 

“It was 22 days in the past when the president mentioned that he would have somebody name us instantly when he acquired again to DC and set it up,” Paula Reed, Trevor’s mom, informed CNN.

“The workplace employees haven't referred to as us. And we needed to be right here to carry consideration to Trevor’s case and to allow them to know that we didn't overlook. We’re ready for that telephone name and we would like the assembly the president promised us.” 

Paula and her husband Joey are stationed in entrance of the North Garden of the White Home, sporting t-shirts with their son’s picture printed on them together with the legend: “Free Trevor Reed: Wrongfully Imprisoned by Russia since 2019.” In addition they hung a big crimson banner with Trevor’s picture and the identical textual content.

Paula and Joey Reed declare nobody from the White Home has contacted them though President Biden promised them they might.

AP

The Reeds intend to remain exterior the White Home till Friday, although Paul Reed informed CNN Wednesday that “if we have to keep longer, we would do this.” 

Reed was sentenced to 9 years in jail in July 2020 after being convicted of assaulting two Russian law enforcement officials after he reportedly turned blackout drunk at a celebration the earlier yr. Reed’s household and supporters say he was convicted of trumped-up expenses so the Kremlin might use him as a political bargaining chip.

On Wednesday, Reed’s dad and mom mentioned Trevor had launched into a starvation strike to protest his remedy by Russian officers — the second one since he started his sentence.

Trevor Reed was sentenced to 9 years in jail after he was discovered responsible of assaulting two Russian Police Officers.

REUTERS

“Trevor had some harm the place he thinks he may need a damaged rib. Plus, he has all of the signs of lively tuberculosis. He went to a jail hospital for about ten days. They usually didn’t deal with him,” Joey Reed mentioned.

Reed’s father added that his son requested to remain within the hospital however was as a substitute put in solitary confinement. Whereas in jail, Trevor, 30, has been coughing up blood and has “one thing protruding out of his aspect,” his father claimed. 

The one remedy Reed has reportedly been supplied with is aspirin.

Biden spoke with the previous marine’s household over the telephone earlier this month, after failing to fulfill face-to-face throughout a visit to Texas. 

In accordance with the White Home, the president reiterated “his dedication to doing every thing he can to carry their son residence.” 

On the time, press secretary Jen Psaki indicated that whereas an in-person assembly was unable to occur through the president’s go to, the White Home was “engaged on a time for the president to fulfill together with his household over the brief time period.” 

“I don’t have a time or date on that or something like that, however that's one thing we're going to work towards,” she informed reporters. 

The White Home didn't instantly reply to The Submit’s request for remark.