Biden meets with Paul Whelan's sister after Russia rejects offer to free him

Washington — President Biden on Wednesday met with the sister of Paul Whelan, who the U.S. considers to be wrongfully detained in Russia following his arrest on espionage charges in 2018.

Elizabeth Whelan had been seeking a meeting with the president for months as her family presses the Biden administration to do more to secure her brother's release. 

"This afternoon, the President held a private meeting with Elizabeth Whelan, the sister of wrongfully detained American Paul Whelan, to discuss the Administration's continued efforts to secure Paul's release from Russia," the White House said, adding that national security adviser Jake Sullivan joined the meeting.