Pompeo asks for access to detained American in Russia

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday said the United States wants access to Paul Whelan, an American who was arrested Friday in Russia on espionage charges. Pompeo, speaking from Brazil, said the United States has “made clear to the Russians our expectation that we will learn more about the charges and come to understand what it is he’s been accused of, and if the detention is not appropriate, we will demand his immediate return.” Russian state news agency Tass and private agency Interfax quoted a spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Minister saying that access to U.S. consular representatives was granted Wednesday.

Whelan, 48, who is in charge of global security for a Michigan-based auto parts supplier with no facilities in Russia, was in Moscow to attend a wedding, according to his brother David Whelan, who called his brother’s innocence “undoubted” and said the family is deeply concerned for his well-being. Whelan served in the Marines but was given a bad-conduct discharge after he was convicted in a 2008 court-martial on charges related to larceny.

The Russian Federal Security Service claim Whelan was caught “during an espionage operation” but gave no details. Russian spying charges can carry a prison sentence of up to 20 years.

Editor’s note: This article was updated to include Russia’s response to Secretary Pompeo’s request and to note Whelan’s separation from the Marines.