Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pennsylvania) criticized the recent prisoner exchange with Russia in an interview on Friday.
“We are pleased that these prisoners are coming home. They should never have been taken prisoner in the first place,” Perry said. Said Fox Business’ “Mornings With Maria.”
“But let’s not forget that there’s another side to this equation,” he told host Maria Bartiromo. “Essentially, we’ve traded journalists for murderers and thieves. It’s like trading rifles for spoons.”
On Thursday, the United States and Russia participated in a major prisoner swap that saw the release of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, former U.S. Marines Paul Whelan, Ars Kurmasheva and Vladimir Kara-Murza, five Germans and seven Russians.
The exchange also saw the release of Vadim Krasikov, who was imprisoned in Germany for a 2019 murder. From the Associated Press.
“These people should never have been held hostage and held prisoner in the first place, but this is just encouraging [Russian President] “President Vladimir Putin will continue to broker these deals and hold our people captive to get these deals,” Perry said.
in Thursday’s statement, “I congratulate Paul, Evan, Ars and Vladimir on their return and rejoice with their families,” Biden said.
“We remember all those who remain unjustly detained or held hostage around the world, and we reiterate our pledge to their families: We see you. We are with you. And we will never stop working to bring your loved ones home where they belong,” Biden continued.
“Nobody is celebrating or doing backflips because Trump won the election,” White House national security communications adviser John Kirby said in an interview with Fox News on Thursday. [Vadim] Mr Krasikov is now a free man.”
“That’s what negotiations are like,” Kirby continued.
Hill contacted the White House.
