Biden speaks to family of WSJ reporter, says detention by Russia is 'totally illegal'
Biden talks to the family of Evan Gershkovich. President Joe Biden spoke to the family of Evan Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal reporter who the United States says is being unjustly imprisoned by Russia, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporter s aboard Air Force One on Tuesday. The president "felt it was really important to connect with Evan's family ," Jean-Pierre said. "We're making it real clear that it's totally illegal what's happening," Biden told reporters on the tarmac as he boarded the plane to depart for a state visit to Ireland. The State Department announced on Monday that Gershkovich, who was arrested on espionage charges in late March that the U.S. adamantly denies, is now officially classified as a wrongfully detained American, a designation that grants additional powers and resources to U.S. officials as they work to secure his freedom. The Gershkovich said that it was encouraged by both the State Departmen...