President Biden Calls Family Of Texas Marine In Russian Prison Following Event In Fort Worth
FORT WORTH (CBSDFW.COM) - Among the North Texans hoping to see President Joe Biden in Fort Worth on Tuesday was the family of Trevor Reed.
The Texas Marine has been imprisoned in Russia since 2019.
His family, who lives in Granbury, demonstrated outside the Resource Connection of Tarrant County where President Biden was speaking, calling it a "desperate effort" to try to catch his attention.
After his Fort Worth event on veterans care, President Biden called the Reed family.
"He kept saying over and over again how horrible he felt that he couldn't stop," said Trevor's mother Paula Reed. "And he wanted to let us know Trevor is something he thinks about every day. Obviously better words could not be heard by a mother whose son is there. He said he understand Trevor's health is very critical and he wants to do whatever he can do to bring him home as soon as possible."
The president told them he will have his staff make an appointment to meet with them in Washington.
They said they are confident that even with the war in Ukraine, negotiations for a prisoner release or trade can still happen.
President Biden said last year he brought up Reed's case in a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The Reeds said they spoke with their son last Friday and Monday for the first time since July 2021.
They said he has been sick in solitary confinement and his morale is falling.
U.S. Sen. John Cornyn called on President Biden to meet with the family.
"Trevor Reed has been held in a Russian prison with little to no access to badly-needed health care or communication with his family, and his situation is only going to get worse given the political climate in Russia," Cornyn said in a statement. "This Administration must do more to free Americans held hostage in Russia," he added. "President Biden meeting with the Reed family while in Texas on a day he is touting the importance of caring for our veterans would be a welcome start."