Current:Home > BackRussian lobbies to be part of potential prisoner swap for Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan-DB Wealth Institute B2 Expert Reviews
Russian lobbies to be part of potential prisoner swap for Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan
View Date:2024-12-23 20:44:50
Washington — A Russian accused of money laundering is lobbying to be included in a possible prisoner swap between the U.S. and Russia, a court filing revealed.
Alexander Vinnik, a Russian national who allegedly laundered billions of dollars through an illicit cryptocurrency exchange, was extradited in August from Greece to California, where he remains in custody.
Vinnik was arrested in Greece in 2017 at the request of the U.S. He was later extradited to France, where he was convicted of money laundering and sentenced to five years in prison. He returned to Greece after serving his sentence, then was extradited to the U.S.
In a May 19 court filing, Vinnik's lawyer argued for modifying a protective order on his case to ramp up efforts to have him included in any potential prisoner swap between the U.S. and Russia.
"Mr. Vinnik should be permitted to … answer the accusations against him and advocate publicly for his inclusion in a prisoner swap," his attorney wrote. "It appears most likely that the Department of Justice opposes permitting Mr. Vinnik to discuss the case because it opposes prisoner swaps and does not want to see him returned to Russia."
The Justice Department declined to comment.
The filing says the U.S. previously offered to trade Vinnik in exchange for WNBA star Brittney Griner, "but the exchange took a different turn." Griner, who was convicted on drug charges in Russia, was released in December in a prisoner swap that sent convicted Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout back to Russia.
The U.S. is still seeking the release of Paul Whelan, who is serving a 16-year sentence on espionage charges, and Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who was detained in March on espionage charges. The U.S. says the charges against them are baseless and considers them wrongfully detained.
"Numerous individuals with knowledge of prisoner swap negotiations have informed defense counsel that it is important that Mr. Vinnik and his defense team advocate publicly for his inclusion in a trade in order to maximize the chances of such an exchange," the court filing said.
Vinnik's lawyer said "discussion between the two countries are ongoing" about a potential prisoner swap.
The Wall Street Journal reported earlier on the court filing.
The U.S. has given few details about its negotiations with Russia as it seeks the release of Whelan and Gershkovich.
Earlier this week, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller declined to say whether Russia has engaged on the "serious proposal" Secretary of State Antony Blinken offered for the release of Whelan. Blinken said in March that the U.S. had made an offer and urged Moscow to accept it.
"We oftentimes have found that it is not conducive to our efforts — to return wrongful detainees home — to speak about the details of those efforts," Miller said.
- In:
- Paul Whelan
- United States Department of Justice
- Russia
Caitlin Yilek is a politics reporter for CBS News Digital. Reach her at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter: https://twitter.com/hausofcait
TwitterveryGood! (881)
Related
- Sofia Richie Reveals 5-Month-Old Daughter Eloise Has a Real Phone
- AP-Week in Pictures: Aug. 3 - Aug. 10, 2023
- Trump adviser Boris Epshteyn arrested in 2021 after groping complaints at club, police records show
- Grand jury indicts teen suspect on hate crime charge in O'Shae Sibley's Brooklyn stabbing death
- West Virginia governor-elect Morrisey to be sworn in mid-January
- Iran's leader vows to enforce mandatory dress code as women flout hijab laws
- Wholesale inflation in US edged up in July from low levels
- San Francisco 49ers almost signed Philip Rivers after QB misfortune in NFC championship
- Gavin Rossdale Makes Rare Public Appearance With Girlfriend Xhoana Xheneti
- In Oklahoma, Native American women struggle to access emergency contraception
Ranking
- Brush fire erupts in Brooklyn's iconic Prospect Park amid prolonged drought
- Sweden stakes claim as Women’s World Cup favorite by stopping Japan 2-1 in quarterfinals
- Texas judge says no quick ruling expected over GOP efforts to toss 2022 election losses near Houston
- Iraq bans the word homosexual on all media platforms and offers an alternative
- New Pentagon report on UFOs includes hundreds of new incidents but no evidence of aliens
- In the twilight of the muscle car era, demand for the new 486-horsepower V-8 Ford Mustang is roaring
- Nick Kyrgios pulls out of US Open, missing all four Grand Slam events in 2023
- Kate Middleton and Prince William Get Special New Titles From King Charles III
Recommendation
-
Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson weighs in on report that he would 'pee in a bottle' on set
-
Mary Cosby Makes Epic Return in Real Housewives of Salt Lake City Season 4 Trailer
-
England midfielder Lauren James handed two-match ban at World Cup
-
Suburban Detroit woman says she found a live frog in a spinach container
-
Caitlin Clark shanks tee shot, nearly hits fans at LPGA's The Annika pro-am
-
North Carolina woman wins $4 million in new scratch-off lottery game
-
Katharine McPhee Misses David Foster Tour Shows Due to Horrible Family Tragedy
-
Paramore cancels remaining US tour dates amid Hayley Williams' lung infection